Arturo L Fernandez was a 56-year-old seaman and engineer. One day he was working aboard a pipe-laying derrick vessel. He was testing to prove the lifting capabilities of a crane on the vessel. At the time, pad eyes had been placed on a test barge to provide adequthe right balance for the test. A pad eye is a device that a line runs through, or provides an attachment point. It usually is bolted or welded to the deck or hull of a boat. At the same time, the boat had equalizer blcoks to connect the pad eyes on the lift barge to the … [Read more...]
Mining Company fined $900,000 for Deadly Explosion
September 15, 2011 by
Federal Officials say a Judge in Pennsylvania ruled a mining Company in Pennsylvania must pay $900,000 in fines for a explosion that killed a miner and resulted in criminal charges against three others. The Department of Labor fines against the company are from a settlement order signed in the beginning of August. The lawsuit came from a methane explosion that killed one miner at the Buck Mountain Mine in 2006. The Mine Safety and health Administration found that the miner was killed when methane exploded in a under ventilated … [Read more...]
4.1 Million Americans Injured Every Year at Work
September 8, 2011 by
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, every year, more than 4.1 million Americans workers are injured on the job. Those injuries can range from carpal tunnel syndrome to a severe personal injury such as breaking a leg or sometimes even wrongful death, caused by their job. For approximately 25% people of those people, their workplace injuries and illnesses are severe enough to warrant workers compensation. Fortunately, workers' compensation laws have been created in every state to protect individuals who are … [Read more...]
Texas Employees exposed to Falling Hazards
September 6, 2011 by
(Texas)-The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a construction company with six safety violations after an inspection of the work site found employees exposed to several hazards while applying stucco to the exterior of a home. The OSHA report proposed penalties totaling $50,820. "This is not the first time [the company] has jeopardized the safety of its employees," said San Antonio OSHA Area Director Jeff Funke. "Exposing workers to possible falls is unacceptable and can have tragic … [Read more...]
10 Companies Recalling Gel Fuels
September 1, 2011 by
The Washington Post reported 10 companies are recalling 2 million bottles and jugs of the gel fuel used in outdoor firepots because of the serious risk for potential burns and exploding dangers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the gel fuel has been connected to several dozen injuries when consumers could not tell whether the flame was still burning. Pouring more gel on a burning pot can lead to dangerous flares and severe burns. The companies recalling gel fuel: Bird Brain Inc. ofYpsilanti,Mich.; Bond Manufacturing … [Read more...]
Workers Compensation: Employer’s View
August 30, 2011 by
Your Employer Can’t “Punish” You for a Work Injury South Carolina Law is on your side, just ask the attorneys at The Strom Law Firm, LLC. As an injured worker, you may fear that your employer may retaliate against you for filing and seeking compensation for a workers’ compensation claim. Employees also worry about cooperating in the investigation of and/or testifying in support of an injured co-worker. In most states, employees have a legal right to be protected from workers’ comp retaliation. If you encounter retaliation from your … [Read more...]
How do I Pursue Damages from a Third Party?
August 25, 2011 by
You’re Entitled to more than Workers Comp Recovery. You may have more payment rights under the law than you initially thought. If you’re a victim of a work injury, it’s possible to receive further monetary compensation in addition to your workers’ compensation claim. In severe injury cases, third-party financial recoveries are often greater than the benefits an injured worker receives from workers' compensation. In a third-party claim, an injured worker may be permitted to recover future and past medical expenses, loss of earnings, loss … [Read more...]
Injured Worker Quick Facts
August 23, 2011 by
What You Should Know If You Are Hurt On The Job In SC: If you are injured on the job, you have 90 days to inform your employer of your injury. There are exceptions to the general rule, including situations where a disease or illness did not develop until after exposure. Once your employer is notified, you must file a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Commission within 2 years of the accident in order to receive benefits. If your check is late, you do have some recourse. South Carolina law requires your employer to pay you on time. … [Read more...]
How do I file a workers compensation claim?
August 18, 2011 by
As soon as an injury occurs, the first thing you need to do is to notify your employer. If you fail to do so, it could possibly ruin your chances of receiving benefits. Your employer then files an injury report with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission and then notifies the insurance carrier. After informing your employer, you should then contact the workers’ compensation commissions personally to make sure all required documents are filed for your claim in South Carolina. If your find out your company is did not report, or … [Read more...]
