Greensboro Personal Injury Lawyer - Workplace Injuries

51 Year Old Charlotte Man Electrocuted and Revived by Defibrilator

Lawrence Egerton — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:44:04 GMT

Nelson Pozo has developed quite a relationship with electrical current. Pozo was working for AEP Industries Saturday night when he was accidentally electrocuted. He received a 420 volt shock, though the cause of the accidental electrocution remains unclear.

He was found without a pulse, but luckily the Stallings police department had recently raised money to put defibrillators in their patrol cars. The responding officers shocked Pozo for the second time that day, bringing him back to life. They then performed CPR until EMS arrived.

Interesting how something can have the power to kill you and save you, or sometimes, both. Pozo is currently at Presbyterian Main Hospital in Charlotte, in good condition. AEP Industries is investigating the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Lawrence Egerton

Tighter Safety Standards Sought In Wake of Tragic Fireworks Accident

Pierce Egerton — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:51:43 GMT

According to State Senator Marc Basnight, new legislation will be introduced next week to tighten safety standards for the handling of large quantities of fireworks. The move comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of 4 workers in a fireworks explosion on Ocracoke Island.

The AP is reporting that the bill will direct the state fire marshal to provide oversight in the handling of pyrotechnics. Further details were not available at this time. While the change comes too late to help the families who lost loved ones in the recent explosion, let’s hope new safety standards will prevent future tragedies.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pierce Egerton

Electrocution at UNCG: More Information And More Questions

Pierce Egerton — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:26:22 GMT

More information is now available about the electrocution of a construction worker yesterday at UNCG. The worker was an employee of Greensboro-based Powertec Electric. Powertec was doing electrical work as part of a remodeling job at the Elliot University Center.

Paul Lester of the UNCG Police Department told WFMY that the victim was changing light fixtures and installing new junction boxes and was “unaware that the box he was working with still had power.”

Lester said the investigation is closed. It is unclear at this point whether he was only referring to the police investigation. There should be further inquiries. It certainly seems that at this point there are lots of questions that need answers. Such as how the power was left on with electricians working in the area. What safeguards were in place to avoid this situation and how did they fail. Did the workplace comply with OSHA regulations?

Lester did say that the UNCG Office of Safety reviews incidents such as this. Hopefully we will be hearing the results of their review in the near future.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pierce Egerton

Worker Electrocuted at UNCG

Pierce Egerton — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:48:24 GMT

The News & Record is reporting that a man rewiring lighting fixtures near the bookstore was electrocuted when he opened a junction box that still had power. The man was taken to Cone Hospital and pronounced dead.

The accident occurred around 1:00 pm. The victim is believed to be a subcontractor hired to perform work in the Elliot University Center. No further details are known at this point.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pierce Egerton

UPDATE: 4 Dead, 1 Injured in Tragic Fireworks Explosion

Pierce Egerton — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:42:18 GMT

The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that two more workers have died from injuries sustained when a truck loaded with fireworks exploded on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The workers were apparently employed by Melrose South Pyrotechnics of Catawba, S.C. Melrose was going to provide the island’s annual Independence Day fireworks display.

www.youtube.com/watch

WAVY video.

One worker died at the scene. Of the other four injured workers, two were apparently airlifted to the Jaycee Burn Unit at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and two were airlifted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, N.C.

One of the workers taken to the burn center and one of the workers taken to Pitt Memorial subsequently died according to reports.

Several government agencies are investigating the explosion including the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the SBI. Ferry service to the island was closed to the public for several hours.

UPDATE 7/5/09: Sadly the death toll in yesterday's explosion rose to 4 this morning.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pierce Egerton

One Dead, Four Wounded in Fireworks Blast

Pierce Egerton — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:15:58 GMT

One worker was killed and four others seriously injured when a truck filled with fireworks exploded this morning on Ocracoke Island, NC. WFMY is reporting that one of the injured suffered serious burns and was airlifted to UNC’s burn center in Chapel Hill.

According to a story by ABC11 the fireworks were for an annual Independence Day celebration on the remote island. Jane Hodges, Hyde County interim emergency manager, said, "There was an immediate response from Hyde County Sheriff's Department, the National Park Service, NC DOT Ferry Division, Marine Fisheries, and volunteers to handle the crowds and assess the situation. Fortunately, there were three doctors including a medical examiner and volunteer nurses who responded immediately along with the staff of the Ocracoke Health Center and Hyde County EMS."

Ferry service to Ocracoke was closed to the public for most of the day as use of the ferry was dedicated to emergency traffic.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pierce Egerton

Preventing Construction Injuries

Dan Deuterman — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:26:31 GMT

Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs out there, accounting for more workplace injuries and fatalities than any other field.

But there are simple things that construction workers and their employers can do to prevent injuries on the job.

These tips are taken from a new 92-page guide from the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It's a must-read for any construction worker, supervisor, contractor or foreman.

- Change tools and/or equipment. For example, use tools with extension handles that let you stand up rather than stooping.

- To reduce the amount of overhead work you must do, use a lift to raise yourself
so you are closer to the work.

- When you pick up or set down a load, don't reach more than 10 inches away from your body.

- Don't twist your body.

- Lift with your legs, not your back. Keep your back as straight as possible.

- Lift any load using a solid two-handed grip

- Use ergonomically designed tools that are designed to fit the hand and body and the job.

I've really simplified the tips contained in the NIOSH report. This is one of the most comprehensive tipsheets I've ever seen for the construction industry, and the researchers have done a good job of providing specific examples for preventing injuries while performing various construction tasks. You can learn something whether you're installing drywall, caulking, cutting sheet metal or tying rebar.

For more information on this subject, please see our section on Workplace Injuries and Workers Compensation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Dan Deuterman

OSHA Increasing Unannounced Safety Checks to Prevent Construction Injuries

Dan Deuterman — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:53:25 GMT

For many construction workers, job safety is truly a matter of life and death.

It's hard to imagine putting your life on line everyday just by going to work. A startling number of construction workers are injured and die each year from falls, crushed by equipment, electrocutions and other causes. The number of construction-related injuries numbers more than 400,000 every year, according to OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, more than 1,100 people die every year in construction accidents.

Those fortunate to survive a work-related accident have to enter the red-tape world of workers' compensation, and many people are only adequately compensated with the help of an attorney.

Common sense dictates the best way to recover from a work-related injury is to avoid it all together.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is hoping to reduce construction-related fatalities and injuries, specifically, in the Southeast by conducting a series of unannounced construction site safety checks.

As part of a campaign dubbed "Swept Up in Safety Weeks," checks will be carried out over the next 12 months with unannounced visits to construction sites throughout the entire Southeast region, which includes the Carolinas.

OSHA hopes these checks will help spot and eliminate safety and health hazards at construction sites and reduce injuries and fatalities.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Worksite Injuies and Workers Compensation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Dan Deuterman

Deported Illegal Worker Wins Workers' Compensation Benefits

Dan Deuterman — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:36:45 GMT

Illegal immigrants may not be entitled to the same rights as American citizens, but they are allowed to sue for workers' compensation. A recent Rhode Island case involving an injured, undocumented worker from Mexico illustrates that point.

We first brought you the story of Edgar Velasquez this summer, and now there's a positive update.

Edgar Velasquez, 22, was issued a temporary visa back in the U.S. to sue for injuries he suffered while working for a tree service company.

Velasquez was hit in the face with a chainsaw and suffers from headaches, migraines and recurring pain in his face from the accident. He is seeking damages for on-going treatment and medical bills in Mexico.

Just last week, a judge in Rhode Island granted workers' comp benefits to Valazquez.

Business owners sometimes hire illegal immigrants because they're cheap labor. But they shouldn't able to shun financial responsibility when an employee -- illegal or otherwise -- gets injured.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Workers Compensation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Dan Deuterman

Last day for 9/11 Workers to File for Workers Comp Benefits

Dan Deuterman — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:10:28 GMT

Today is the last day for 9/11 rescue and cleanup workers to assert their eligibility to receive workers' compensation benefits should the need ever arise.

You can read more about workers' comp and 9/11 in my earlier blog posting on this topic.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Dan Deuterman