Officials have not released the workers’ names, conditions, or injuries, however, a family member of one of the workers told reporters that they were in stable condition.  Investigators are looking into what caused the accident that left the two workers injured.

If you or someone you love has been injured on the job, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.

Emergency officials airlifted Blas to Nassau University Medical Center to be treated.  Blas was later transferred to Stony Brook University Medical Center where doctors are trying to reattach her arm.  Authorities say she is in stable condition.

Witnesses to the accident and company officials were unsure as to how Blas’ arm became stuck in the machine.  The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be investigating the accident.

The accident occurred in the afternoon on July 28th when 31-year old Jack Hogan of Baden was working in a 30 foot deep hole.  Baden tried to climb out but fell backwards back down into the hole.  Hogan began to feel faint and radioed for help.  The plant supervisor, an inspector for the borough’s engineering firm, and a construction worker responded to his call for help.  All three say they were overcome by the fumes coming from the hole Hogan was trapped in.

Shawn Haynes, one of the rescuers, stated, “As soon as I got down in there I tapped one of the other guys that came down on the back, said I wasn’t feeling so well and that’s all I remember.  They said I dropped like a ton of bricks”.  Another rescuer was overcome by the gas and fell twenty feet.  The two other men then also became sick from the gas and fell down the hole on top of him.

All four men were rushed to Allegheny General Hospital for injuries.  Haynes was released later that night and Hogan later passed away at the hospital.

Investigators detected a small amount of methane gas when they arrived at the scene of the accident.  They are now trying to determine if the methane was what killed Hogan and injured the other men.

Both men were rushed to a nearby hospital.  Enfield’s head was crushed in the accident causing him serious brain injury.  The other worker was treated and released not long after arriving at the hospital.  On July 31st, Enfield succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating this tragic accident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Enfield’s family and friends.

The accident happened when the company was attempting to clean a supply pipe of debris using flammable natural gas. Six workers were killed and fifty were injured in the explosion.

The fines against the construction companies and contractors come after 371 accusations of workplace safety violations, including 225 considered to be willful. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis argues, “No operation and no deadline is worth cutting corners and costing a single human life”.

Nike has consistently refused to offer severance payments, but gave in to pressure from anti-sweatshop student and university groups to pay the workers’ compensation relief.  The money will be distributed between the laid off workers based on length of service and workers’ earnings.  They have also offered to cover the costs of enrolling the workers in Honduras’ national health care program for one year, provide job training, and give priority to the laid off workers at positions at nearby factories.

While some are praising Nike for its willingness to provide workers’ compensation, many still believe the workers are owed millions in severance payments.

If you or someone you love is seeking workers’ compensation, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.

The four year plan asks federal agencies to improve workplace safety in order to reduce the number of claims made a year by federal employees, as well as the number of federal dollars spent a year on workers’ compensation.  In 2009, 79,000 new claims were filed by federal employees and over $1.6 billion was spent by the federal government on workers’ compensation.

“Many of these work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable, and executive departments and agencies can and should do even more to improve workplace safety and health, reduce the financial burden of injury on taxpayers, and relieve unnecessary suffering by workers and their families,” stated Obama.

If you or someone you love has been injured or become ill on the job, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.

However, last week, the VA altered its disability benefits regulations so that now veterans only need to provide documentation of serving in a war zone and an honorable discharge.

Officials say that war zones have changed, with unidentifiable “hot zones” endangering many, as opposed to a having a clear front line. “That’s what is different about these wars.   You could be a cook or a driver and be exposed to a violent situation,” stated veteran Josh Callahan of the Boise VA Medical Center.

If you or someone you love suffers from PTSD or another disability, contact the Philadelphia short-term disability attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.

Last year, one of Franc’s roofers, 29-year old Carl Beck, died when he fell from a steep roof while not using any safety gear.  Investigators found that Franc did not provide fall-protection equipment to employees and failed to appropriately train new employees.

Head of OSHA Dr. David Michaels believes that existing laws are not tough enough on willfully negligent employers who cause injuries in their employees, like Franc.  Now, Michaels is promoting the Protecting America’s Workers Act, or PAWA, that would sentence negligent employers to up to twenty years in prison.  PAWA would also increase fines against willful violators and strengthen whistleblower protections.

The workers were airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital for head injury and broken ribs.  One of the workers was hit in the head by a piece of metal, leaving skull lacerations and knocking him out.  The other worker suffered broken ribs.

A pipe coupling that separated was suspected as the cause of the accident that injured the two workers.  The Department of Environmental Protection’s North Central region director stated, “The cause of the blow-out was probably excessive pressure in the hammer union, but really the question will be was whether the union was installed properly or if the failure was due to a manufacturing defect”.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a workplace accident, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.