Fall Accidents

January 30, 2016

Company Managers Arrested in Connection with Employee Death

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, along with the rest of the nation, the workers’ compensation system is designed in such a way the claimant does not have to prove he or she was injured on the job as a result of the negligence of his or her employer, as it would be for a typical personal injury case. In a workers’ compensation case in Massachusetts, it is only necessary to establish that employee was injured and that his or her injury occurred on the job, or that employee suffered an illness that is work-related.

For an example of a work-related illness, the nail care industry is a good place to start. Many technicians spend their entire day working with harmful chemicals that cause skin conditions and respiratory illness, including severe breathing disorders. An employee who is eventually unable to work as result of severe respiratory illness would be required to show he or she had become sick as result of working in the nail salon. There would, however, be no need to prove the employer was negligent in any way. Continue reading

January 16, 2016

Boston Construction Workers Seriously Injured in Fall Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Fall accidents are one of the most common and often one of the most serious types of injuries suffered by employees in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including the greater Boston area. Under the workers’ compensation system, an employee must file a claim with his or her employer as soon as possible following a fall accident. However, it is also essential that an accident report be generated and filed with the worker’s employer.

This means that all employees who are injured on the job should immediately report an accident to their employers. While some accidents are obviously serious, and your supervisor will be made aware immediately, other accidents may not seem as serious at the time. Continue reading

October 23, 2015

Workers Seriously Injured after Falling into Sewage Treatment Tank

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According a recent article from BALTV, a worker in the Baltimore area was seriously injured when he fell into a large tank of wastewater “activated sludge” at the sewage treatment plant at which he was employed.

Company officials say the worker was getting into a Bobcat construction vehicle located on the top of what is known as a grit tank at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. When he got into the Bobcat, the bucket on the front of the machine unexpectedly rose up and knocked into the operator. At this point, the operator was knocked off the Bobcat and fell into the grit tank of sludge, causing serious bodily injury. It has not been said what the full extent of worker’s injuries were, but we do know he was flown by medevac helicopter to a shock trauma center capable of dealing with such a serious on-the-job injury. Continue reading

September 12, 2015

One Worker Killed, Another Injured During Construction of Vikings Stadium

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Whenever a new stadium is built, there is a lot of excitement and, sometimes, conflicting emotions from fans. Usually by the time a stadium is being replaced, it is old and falling apart, or it is located in an area that many fans consider unsafe or difficult to get to, and that can harm attendance.

When a new stadium is finally complete after decades of talk and years of construction, fans will go to the new stadium, even if they will always miss the old stadium. However, with all the good memories people who are fans may have, some construction workers and their families may have tragic memories associated with the construction of the new stadium. Continue reading

September 9, 2015

Worker Killed on Job in Construction Accident in Taunton

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Working on a construction site is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Construction workers are constantly working around heavy machinery. There are often heavy loads suspended from cranes well over the heads of construction workers, and these workers are frequently required to climb to dangerously high levels and use power tools, which can also be extremely dangerous, should there be an on-the-job accident.

According to a recent news article from WPRI, a construction accident in Taunton, Massachusetts resulted in the death of a worker. This is the second fatal accident involving a construction site in that city in the past month. In the first fatal construction accident, a worker was killed when a lift fell over onto him during construction of a new school. Continue reading

July 29, 2015

Firefighters Rescue Worker Inured in Beacon Hill Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent news report from the Boston Globe, a worker was injured on the job during a renovation project in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. Witnesses say employee was on second-floor scaffolding erected on the outside of the building when he hurt his knee. Normally, a knee injury on the job would not make news, despite the fact that it could have potentially devastating consequences for the injured employee. But, in his case, he could not lower himself to the ground.

He found himself stranded on the raised scaffolding and had no way to get down. His coworkers called first responders, and Boston firefighters arrived on scene to help the injured employee get down to the ground and get medical treatment. Once Boston Fire Department (BFD) personnel got to the Charles and Revere Street location where the injured worker was trapped, they were able to use a large ladder to get him down and onto a stretcher. From there, they assessed his condition and transported him to a local Boston hospital for treatment. There has been no report as to how the worker injured his knee. Continue reading

March 14, 2015

Two Mass. Workers Killed Clearing Snow, Ice From Roofs

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

This harsh winter has claimed many victims in Massachusetts. We have seen everything from people being injured or killed in weather-related auto accidents, to fatalities involving outdoor recreational activities such as skiing or snowboarding to several accidents involving snow falling off roofs onto people below.

According to a recent news article from NECN, two workers were recently killed in Canton, Massachusetts while clearing ice and snow off roofs.

In one work-related accident, authorities say a worker was on top of roof trying to remove snow and ice when he unknowingly stepped on a skylight that had been covered with snow. When he stepped on the skylight, it gave way, and he fell approximately 40 feet to his death. First responders attempted to provide medical attention on the scene, and transported him to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

In another Canton on-the-job fatality, a worker was on top of a roof working to remove snow and ice when he fell off the roof. He fell 30 feet to the ground and suffered severe injuries. He was taken to a Boston hospital by medical evacuation helicopter and was pronounced dead at the level one trauma center.
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November 1, 2014

OSHA Fines New England Roofing Contractor

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Construction jobs are one of the more dangerous occupations, and being a roofer is particularly hazardous. According to a recent news release from the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one New England-based roofing contractor was fined $70,000 for exposing employees to unnecessary and potentially fatal fall risks.

Inspectors found employees working on top of a two-story residential roof without fall protection equipment. According to federal regulations, roofing workers are to be provided with fall protection equipment. In this case, they were without such safety equipment due to a deliberate failure on behalf of the employer.

OSHA reported some workers did not have any fall protection equipment and others were provided with harnesses, but were not tied-off to an independent anchorage point in a way that would have prevented a fatal fall. Workers were also given a ladder with broken rungs to access the roof and were not properly trained to recognize these hazards and take adequate steps to prevent injuries.
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August 1, 2014

Elms v. Renewal by Anderson: Common Law Employee Versus Independent Contractor Status

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Our workplace accident lawyers understand that employers may try to allege that their workers are independent contractors in order to avoid paying benefits.

In Elms v. Renewal by Anderson, a case from the Maryland Court of Appeals, the court decided on issues pertaining to whether an injured worker was an employee of the defendant or an independent contractor.

According to the record, the plaintiff was a licensed home improvement contractor. He was the owner and operator of a home improvement business. Some of the services he provided were the installation and restoration of windows and doors and general carpentry.
In the years before doing with business with the defendant, the plaintiff maintained a workers’ compensation insurance policy for business. However, the plaintiff was never a beneficiary of the plan, nor was any of his other employees. The only one on the plan was the plaintiff’s son.
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July 10, 2014

Boston Workplaces Need a Rescue Plan For Fall Injuries

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Many employers throughout Boston are well aware of the requirements set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regarding fall protection equipment. Yet, falls remain a top cause of workplace injuries and deaths, especially in the construction field. One possible reason why falls often cause serious or even fatal injuries is because many employers’ fall protection plans do not go far enough. Employers need to not only take steps to prevent falls but also should have a plan in place for what happens after the fall.

Recently, Safety BLR published a comprehensive article on the importance of having a rescue plan in place in case a fall occurs. A rescue plan could allow an employee to get more timely assistance so his injuries are less likely to be devastating or deadly. Those who do suffer falls can make a workers’ compensation claim with the help of a workplace accident lawyer, and employers can cut their costs for work-injury benefits by ensuring that workers get the most prompt treatment for injury.
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