North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog

For a teenager or young adult, having a job can instill confidence, responsibility, independence - and the extra spending money doesn't hurt either.

However, a job can also mean risking a work-related accident in Anderson and elsewhere in South Carolina, especially if they're not knowledgeable about their rights as worker.

There were nearly 18 million workers under the age of 24 in the U.S. in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These younger workers accounted for nearly 15 percent of the workforce during the year.

These young workers have substantially higher work injury rates than their older counterparts. This is at least partially explained by the fact that these workers are often placed in menial or lower-skilled labor jobs, where there are a greater number of hazards present.
Restaurants, for example, are a popular employer of younger workers. In this industry, workers face dangers associated with cooking equipment, knives and slippery floors.

Younger workers are also affected to some extent by inexperience or a lack of training. But it is the duty of the employer to ensure these younger workers are adequately trained and protected from potential injury.

Our Anderson workers' compensation attorneys understand that the younger a worker is, the more likely they are to face certain obstacles that increase their risks for an accident. Some of these include inadequate strength and cognitive abilities to operate certain equipment.

Our focus here on young workers stems from the fact that they'll soon be out looking for summer jobs. We'd like to help parents help their teens safe on the job.

In 2009, there were nearly 340 employees under the age of 24 who were killed in work-related accidents. This includes about 30 fatalities among workers who were under the age of 18.

From 1998 to 2007, there were nearly 800,000 injuries to these young workers. Every single one of them wound up in a hospital emergency room. The injury rate for these young workers is actually about twice as high as the rate for workers older than 25.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's South Carolina Edition of TalkingSafety, about 80 percent of teens work by the time they finish high school. Each year, about 53,000 are injured on the job. Unfortunately on-the-job safety is one of the last things on the minds of these young workers. That's why TalkingSafety is helping these young workers to ask questions and to make demands on their employers. Teen workers should be able to recognize hazards in any workplace, as well as understand how these risks can be mitigated. TalkingSafety is asking parents to talk with their teens about what their rights are as an employee and what they should expect from an employer. Urge your working teen to speak up about dangers and risks that they observe in the workplace. They may be young, but they are still entitled to a safe working environment. Let's help to protect these workers and help them through another successful summer of work.

Continue reading "Job Injuries in Anderson Increase for Working Teens" »

Many employees use big, heavy machinery on a daily basis. What many of these workers may not recognize is that if they are not careful, they can be at some serious risks for a work-related accident in Spartanburg and elsewhere. It's not unlikely for these kinds of accidents to result in death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heavy machinery can injure employees in a number of ways. Hot surfaces can cause serious burns, super sharp edges can cause lacerations and moving parts can easily crush fingers, hands and other extremities. Machine-related injuries also have the ability to result in burns, blindness and even amputations.

Our Spartanburg workers' compensation lawyers understand that employers and employees can practice simple precautionary steps to help to reduce the risks for these kinds of accidents. One of the first steps in preventing a machinery-related accident is to install safeguards. When a machine performs a function or has a part or a process that can injure a worker, there are federal standards that require it to be safeguarded. When the operations of a machine can result in a contact injury, then the hazard must be either controlled or eliminated. Often, these dangers are overlooked or ignored by employers and serious injury, or even death, results.

Machines used on the job can often weigh hundreds of pounds and require specific operator training. Unfortunately, many of these accidents continue to happen because employees are not properly trained to use these machines. If the equipment is misused, the machines may malfunction or fail altogether. But often, even in these scenarios, the incident is not the fault of the operator. That's because employers are required by federal standards to ensure that employees are thoroughly trained and knowledgeable regarding their daily duties and how to operate the equipment they use. Work accidents can result when work conditions are unsafe and because of negligence on the part of either contractors and subcontractors.

Common Machinery Associated with Severe Work-Related Accidents:

-Back Loader.

-Bulldozer.

-Loader.

-Crane.

-Bulldozer.

-Skid Steer.

Regardless of what type of tool is involved in a machinery-related accident, the truth of the matter is that these kinds of accidents can be disastrous and often deadly.

Machine injuries can be life-threatening and could serve a major blow to a person's finances that could last a lifetime. Sometimes these accidents are so severe that a worker can't return to work ever again. Employers and employees are asked to keep safety as a number one priority when working with large machines. The proper training and precautions can help to avoid these life-altering consequences of a machine-related work accident.

Continue reading "Spartanburg Work Accidents Caused by Heavy Machinery" »

As you know, portions of our state were recently slammed with a snowstorm. As much as 9 inches of snow was dumped in areas of West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina, according to the Los Angeles Times. The storm left the coast midweek, leaving storm clean-up and power crews to deal with the mess -- as well as the risks associated with working in these dangerous conditions.

With the conditions that were left by the snow storm, workers are facing increased risks for work-related accidents, injuries and illnesses. Power workers are in charge of cleaning up downed power lines and storm cleanup workers in charge of getting the debris cleaned up and the roadways back in working order. With the icy conditions, workers are facing risks for some serious winter-related work injuries in North Carolina.

Our North Carolina workers compensation lawyers understand that employees who work in winter storm cleanup efforts run the risk of experiencing frostbite, hypothermia, wind chill, being electrocuted by downed power lines, being crushed by collapsing structures and transportation-related accidents. Luckily, there are simple steps that employers and employees can take to help to reduce these risks. Employers and employees are asked to keep an eye on one another when working in these dangerous conditions to make sure that everyone is safe. Safe work practices are a group effort.

Dangers associated with working in winter storms, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

-Traffic accidents because of slippery roadways.

-Slips and falls because of slick walkways.

-Carbon monoxide poisoning.

-Frostbite, hypothermia and other cold weather exposure-related illnesses and injuries.

-Being hit by a falling object, including utility poles, tree limbs and icicles.

-Electrocution from downed power lines.

-Falls from heights.

-Collapsing roofs.

-Burns from fires and active power lines.

-Exhaustion.

-Dehydration.

-Back injuries from clearing snow.

Frostbite and hypothermia may be one of the most common injuries experienced in these types of winter work scenarios, but luckily there are simple steps that you can take to reduce the risks.

How to avoid hypothermia and frostbite:

-Eat warm and high-calorie foods, like pasta.

-Drink warm water. Sweet drinks are the best, like sport-type drinks or sugar water. You want to avoid drinks with caffeine during this time.

-Always use the buddy system so you can keep an eye on one other. Never venture out by yourself.

-Avoid overworking yourself. Energy is needed to keep your muscles loose and warm.

-Work during the warmest time of the day.

-Take frequent breaks in warm areas to let the body warm itself up.

-Layer your clothing to help yourself adjust to the changing temps. Peel off layers as the temps warm up.

-Make sure employees are trained to recognize and deal with cold-induced injuries and illnesses.

Continue reading "North Carolina Work Accidents Spike after Recent Snow Storm" »

Virtually every employee in the every workforce is exposed to an electrical current during their daily duties. Electricity can cause of some serious work-related accidents in Greensboro and elsewhere. Electrocutions can happen to workers in almost all industries. There are a lot of workers in the U.S. who are completely oblivious to these risks, which makes them some of the most vulnerable to an accident involving electrocution.

Injuries caused by electrical current can include shocks, electrocutions (fatal), falls resulting from contact with electrical energy and burns from explosions or fires.

Our Greensboro workers' compensation lawyers understand that working with electricity can be dangerous. Not only are electricians, engineers and other professionals who work with electricity directly in danger of these kinds of accidents, but office employees who work indirectly with electrical currents can be at risk as well. For some time, electricity has been recognized as an on-the-job hazard. To help reduce these risks, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created a number of electrical standards to be used on every work site in the country to help protect employees.

From 2003 to 2007, there were more than 28,400 workers killed on the job. Contact with some type of electrical current was the 7th leading cause of work-related deaths during this time. In these kinds of accidents, nearly 13,200 workers were injured so badly that they had to take time off of work.

Historically, construction workers have seen the largest number of these kinds of fatal work accidents. Still, workers in all kinds of settings are susceptible.

What you need to know about electricity:

-All electrical systems have the potential to hurt you.

-Electricity can be either "dynamic" or "static." Dynamic electricity is the uniform motion of electrons through a conductor. Static electricity is when electricity accumulates on a surface as a result to friction and contact with another surface.

-There can't be any electric current without an unbroken path to and from a conductor.

-When you make contact with electrical energy, the electricity can interfere with the normal electrical signals that are communicated between your brain and the rest of your body.

-High voltage contact burns can burn your body's internal tissues while leaving very little signs of injury on the exterior part of your body.

-Remember to inspect tools and power outlets before using them each time.

-Make sure you're always using the right size fuse.

-When working with electricity and using a ladder, make sure that your ladder is made of non-conducive materials or wood.

-Never work with electricity in areas that are damp or wet.

-Never use power cords that are broken or have exposed wiring.

-Make sure your tools are off before you plug them into a power supply.

-It's never a good idea to use light-duty power cords.

Continue reading "Greensboro Work Accidents Often Caused by Electricity" »

There is going to be six more months of enhanced enforcements on residential construction to help to prevent work-related accidents in North Carolina and elsewhere. The recent announcement was made by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) as it declared that the extension of the new enforcement efforts would now go through the 15th of September. These temporary measures include increased outreach, measures to assure consistency, extended abatement dates, penalty reductions and free on-site compliance assistance.

Every year, more construction workers are killed by on-the-job falls than in any other kind of work accident. Over the last year, OSHA has worked diligently with the construction industry to reduce these risks. The Administration has conducted more than 1,000 outreach programs across the county. These programs are used to help companies more easily meet the requirements of the new directive. OSHA has no intention to stop either. The agency will be continuing its work to help employers get a clear understanding of the new policy and how to meet the safety standards it lays out.

Our North Carolina workers' compensation attorneys understand that the new directive was issued by OSHA to help protect those performing residential construction activities. The new guidelines replace Instruction STD 03-00-001. The new directive, 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), specifies that employees who work in this industry and work at heights of at least 6 feet in the air are required to have the proper fall protection. These fall protections can include personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems or guardrail systems.

The New Fall Protection Plan Requires Employers To:

-Create, implement and enforce a fall protection program.

-Provide employees with training regarding the requirements of the fall protection program.

-Evaluate the program regularly to make sure that it's effective. Programs often need to be changed and updated to meet the ever-changing requirements of the job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 800 people killed while working in the construction industry. Of these fatalities, falls accounted for nearly 40 percent of them, making work-related falls the most common fatal accident in the industry. In addition to these fatalities, there are approximately 150,000 construction work-related injuries every year.

Workers who are between the ages of 25- and 34-years-old are the ones who are most likely to be injured on a construction site. Most of the injuries are to a worker's trunk, spine or back. Nearly 20 percent of workers compensation costs are spent on employees who are injured while working on a construction site.

Common Falls and Workers Compensation Costs:

-Roofing falls: About $110 each.

-Carpenter falls: More than $97,000 each.

-Falls from ladders on scaffolds: Nearly $70,000 each.

Continue reading "North Carolina Fall Accidents Targeted by New OSHA Policy" »

Think you are safe in your office, at your cubicle or behind your office desk? You may want to rethink that after reading this. You could be at some serious risks for work-related injuries in North Carolina and elsewhere. It's important for employers and employees to work together to maintain a safe office setting. This requires reducing chemical dangers, making sure that equipment and work stations are designed properly, that the physical environment is pleasant, that the tasks are reasonable, that the psychological factors are manageable and that you're not exposed to any other kinds of dangers.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) workplaces need to be designed so that employees can work comfortably and don't have to sit or stand for too long and so they don't need to over-reach or work in awkward positions. Our North Carolina workers compensation attorneys stress the importance of employers ensuring their workers are working with the correct ergonomic design. When office workers start complaining of pain, many times the solution can be as easy as a furniture change.

Or, the equipment office workers are using could be satisfactory, but the way the work task is executed could be redesigned. For workers who are on the computer for most of the day, it has been proven that short breaks every hour can reduce the risks of long-term pain.

Other office and desk dangers can include exposed electrical cords, dangerous corners, open desk and filing cabinet drawers, falling objects from high shelves as well as speed and repetition of work-related duties. It's important to make sure job-related stress doesn't consume your life. The requirements of your job need to meet your capabilities. If they don't, a worker can be hurt.

One of the most important factors to help reduce the risks of injury among desk workers is ergonomics. This is the study of people who are at work. The goal of this field is to help to reduce the risk of injuries, disorders and stress related to the overuse of muscles, repetitive tasks and bad posture. Workplaces need to be controlled and tasks need to be designed accordingly to minimize risks.

If your positions at work are not ergonomically correct, you run the risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities, neck and low back.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that roughly 15 million Americans are employed for full-time positions and work on the night shift, evening shift, rotating shifts or other irregular schedules. According to the International Labor Office, the number of hours worked in the U.S. exceeded that of Japan and most of Western Europe. Both shift work and long shifts have been associated with increased risks for illnesses and injuries on the job.

It is important for employers to keep an eye on work design, work-related stresses, air quality in the office, noise control, occupational violence and work scheduling to help to reduce the risks of work-related accidents. Employers have a responsibility to provide safe workplaces for all employees.

Continue reading "Prevent North Carolina Office Injuries " »

A trucking company based out of Salisbury has been instructed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to reinstate a recently-terminated employee's position with the company. The commercial printing company, Rowan Business Forms, allegedly fired the truck driver after he spoke out about some safety concerns that he had with the brakes on his company-owned truck.

Employees should be provided with safe working conditions, regardless of their work title. If you feel that your safety is in jeopardy on the job and you are at unnecessary risks for a work-related accident in North Carolina, you're asked to speak up. Safety should be a top priority of employers nationwide.

Under the current law, employees may not be retaliated against for raising safety concerns. That violates OSHA's whistleblower provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) and 20 other statutes protecting employees who report violations. These violations may consist of dangers involving various securities, consumer and workplace products, or laws regulating safety in the fields of health care, maritime, rail, environment, pipeline, nuclear power, airline and commercial motor vehicles. Our Salisbury workers compensation attorneys are here to help you to fight for your safety on the job throughout North and South Carolina. If you feel that you have been unfairly treated by an employer, recruit an experienced attorney to fight for you.

After OSHA conducted an investigation through its Whistleblower Protection Program, officials found that the firing of the truck driver was in fact in violation of federal standards. As a result, Rowan Business Forms has been ordered to pay the worker roughly $85,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, back wages and interest. No employer is allowed to terminate an employee because he or she was vocal about concerns for workplace safety. Employees are provided with rights and they must be protected throughout the nation.

An OSHA spokeswoman in Atlanta said the agency takes retaliation complaints extremely seriously, especially when the employee was trying to bring to light safety concerns.

Here's how it happened: Back in August 2009, the truck driver told his supervisor about the brake fluid leakage on the company's dump truck. He told the supervisor that the brake pedal could be pushed all the way to the floor and that he almost slammed into a car in front of him because of that problem. He said he feared for his safety. The manager of the company said that they would have the leak fixed before the driver's next dump, but the repair was never completed. Then in October, when the truck was scheduled for its next delivery, the employee refused to drive it because he saw that the leak was never fixed. The very next day, the truck driver was fired.

Under current provisions, employers are not allowed to retaliate against workers who speak up about the concerns that they have about their safety on the job.

Continue reading "Fear of North Carolina Work Accident Led to Firing" »

Some employees have to work in small spaces. For many, such conditions might spur claustrophobia. For these workers, it's just another day on the job. These tiny spaces are referred to "confined space," and it's traditionally referred to as working in an area that has very few entrances and exits, is unfavorable for natural ventilation and is not intended to for human occupation for any extended period of time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These small areas can sometimes produce dangerous air contaminants, increasing the risks for work-related accidents in North Carolina and elsewhere. These spaces can also make everyday tasks more difficult. These workers must do their jobs in close quarters with high-powered tools, falling debris and little room to escape. Planning and preparation is the best way to avoid one of these accidents, but this kind of work is a group effort.

Confined Areas Can Include:

-Boilers.

Reaction Vessels.

-Degreasers.

-Vats.

-Silos.

-Pits.

-Process Vessels.

-Compartment of Ships.

-Storage Tanks.

-Underground Utility Vaults.

-Tunnels.

-Sewers.

-Exhaust and Ventilation Ducts.

-Pipelines.

Our North Carolina workers compensation attorneys understand that there are more than 90 workers killed every year while working in confined spaces. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports an all-time low of these work fatalities in 1990 at 81 to an all-time high of 100 in 2000. In between these years, the average number of yearly fatalities was 92.

To help keep an eye on these kinds of work accidents, investigators with the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program examine each and every fatality associated with confined space-related accidents. Since the program was launched back in 1982, officials have investigated nearly 200 fatal accidents.

The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) is here to offer employees and employers with some safety tips to exercise when working in confined spaces. All of these tips should be fully executed to increase on-the-job safety.

Confined Spaces Safety Tips for NCDOL:

-Keep the noise level low so that employees can hear a warning to avoid any dangers. Areas that are too loud will hinder an employee's ability to hear and could put them in danger.

-Keep all surfaces dry.

-Beware of falling objects.

-Develop a permit-required confined space program covering contractor operations.

-Make sure all employees have access to respirators.

-Ventilation by a blower or fan may be necessary to remove harmful gases and vapors from a confined space.

-Never trust your senses to determine if the air in a confined space is safe. Always test the air with multi-atmosphere testers.

-Create a lockout/tagout program. This type of program is required to separate the employee from the sources of hazardous energy.

-Create procedures to identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees enter.

-Employers are required to provide proper training for all employees who have to work in permit spaces.

-Have an effective rescue plan in place. More than 50 percent of the workers who die in confined spaces are attempting to rescue other workers.

Continue reading "Fatal Work Accidents in North Carolina Caused by Confined Spaces" »

According to the state's Court of Appeals, an employee will be receiving workers' compensation for his work-related injury in North Carolina. A worker who was injured on the job is now entitled to wage-earnings because his injury hindered his ability to work. Here's how it happened. A man who was working as a utility/process operator for a corn products manufacturer was required to kneel down frequently on the job. After kneeling for such long periods of time, he began to feel pain while on his feet. He tried out orthotic inserts for his work boots and those didn't help. About two years later, the man said he felt a pop in his foot when he would stand up from his kneeling position. The pop caused an immediate pain in his ankle and his foot. The pop turned to pain, which then turned to swelling. After seeing a doctor, the worker was diagnosed with tenosynovitis and ruptured or torn tendons, according to Risk & Insurance Online.

After the injury and the diagnosis, the worker was required to use a cane when he walked because of the pain in his leg and his foot. He filed an occupational disease claim. His employer tried to fight that claim, which was initially battled in the lower courts. But recently, the Court of Appeals ruled that the operator was in fact entitled to his benefits.

Our North Carolina workers' compensation attorneys understand that employers are hesitant to fork over the benefits for these kinds of injuries. In this case, the employer reportedly tried to argue that there was absolutely no evidence that the tenosynovitis was caused by the work he was required to perform. The court didn't buy it, saying that the worker's doctor determined that the condition was most likely caused by job requirements, specifically repetitive overuse of the knees and ankles when getting to and from the kneeling position during a span of 25-years with the company.

The court ruled that this was in fact an occupational disease, occurring from stress over many years, even though that company argued that it was the result of a single maneuver. The courts said that the tendons were worn because of they were overused for so long.

Under this ruling, the employee will receive temporary total disability benefits because the worker is unable to work because of the pain. He is currently limited as to his ability to sit, walk or stand for long periods of time.

These types of injuries, repetitive motion/strain injuries, are among some of the most common in the U.S. Some estimates conclude that there are more than 25 million people who have been to a doctor because of a repetitive strain injury of just the hand. Experts believe that there is possibly another 40 million people who have experienced the symptoms of these kinds of injuries, but failed to seek medical attention. Millions more have visited a doctor for other repetitive motion strains. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that repetitive strain injuries account for about 60 percent of all reported occupational illnesses. The annual costs for companies to cover these injuries are estimated at more than $25 billion.

Some statistics report that these accidents can cost nearly $30,000 for just lost days at work and medical expenses. For companies, when factoring in temporary help and the cost of the loss in productivity, costs can be more than $60,000 apiece. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) predict that 50 percent of workers in the country will suffer from some sort of repetitive strain injury.

Continue reading "North Carolina Work Injury Wins Court Victory" »

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is still working diligently to help to reduce the risks of work-related injuries in Asheville and elsewhere during hydrostatic trenching, excavation and trenching and equipment operations. OSHA recently announced it will renew its partnership with the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) to do just that.

David Michaels, Assistant Secretary for the Labor for Occupational Safety and health, said that OSHA aims to make sure workers are protected anytime they are working on pipeline construction in the gas and oil industries.

Our Asheville workers' compensation lawyers understand that these collaborative efforts will continue to help change the culture and operations of the pipeline industry. The renewed enforcement efforts are planned to help employers focus on accident and injury prevention on work sites. As this is a federal requirement, OSHA continues to help employers meet federal safety standards to help make sure that all employees are adequately protected from accidents on the job.

The renewed partnership is going to be a two-year project in which the alliance will be sharing information regarding on-the-job health and safety standards, employer responsibilities, worker rights, etc. through a number of stakeholder meetings, exhibits and forums. Other focuses will be on issues that pertain to on-the-job distracted driving and effective communication with non-English speaking workers.

Currently, the APCA addresses environmental, safety and security issues regarding those employed in the pipeline industry. Those covered under this umbrella include contractors, suppliers and manufacturers of related services and products. The APCA is currently representing nearly 15,000 employees and about 50 companies. It offers training for those working in the ever-changing pipeline industry, as well as effective tips for keeping up with these changes.

Through the program, both the APCA and OSHA work with employers and employees around the country to help prevent workplace illnesses, injuries and fatalities. The groups there are trade, consulates, professional and union organizations, community- and faith-based organizations, educational institutions and various businesses. These groups are working together with the APCA and OSHA to create compliance assistance resources and tools that can be shared with workers throughout the industry. These resources are used to educate employees and employers about their responsibilities and rights.

What are the benefits of an Alliance?

-Assistance in helping workers access beneficial ways to achieve workplace safety, access health tools and access info regarding their rights on the job.

-Resources to best maximize employee health and safety protections.

-Help to establish a progressive dialogue within the agency and those who are committed to employee safety, health and rights.

Continue reading "Asheville Work Accidents on OSHA's Agenda" »

Recently, a Carteret County fire department was given a number of safety and health citations from the North Carolina Department of Labor after an investigation into alleged asbestos exposure. The safety inspection was conducted after the occupational department received a complaint.

The Indian Beach-Salter Path Fire Department was on the receiving end of these citations after health officials determined that the department failed to take the proper actions to help protect employees from work-related accidents in North Carolina. The department received a dozen serious violations in addition to five non-serious violations, according to the Jacksonville Daily News. All of the citations were the result of the department violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina and failing to protect employees.

That was just about $14,500 in proposed penalties. We understand that fireman face grueling work conditions - running into burning buildings to save lives - but our North Carolina workers compensation attorneys don't expect one of the dangers for firefighters to also be asbestos exposure. The complaint that launched the entire investigation into the Beach-Salter Path Fire Department was filed back on Nov. 2

Most of the safety violations were the result of an inspection into the site of 118 Ballpark Road. This is the site where fire department employees were required to take out linoleum that contained more than a quarter of Chrysotile asbestos, putting the workers at risk for injury and illness.

The citations reveal the violations were all grouped together because they all covered relatively similar workplace dangers and hazards that all have the potential to increase injury or illness resulting from an accident.

Investigators found there weren't enough safety precautions taken to meet the requirements to work with Class II asbestos. These include performing exposure monitoring and providing knowledgeable supervision.

The citations didn't explain why the employees were doing work on this site, but some reports indicate that back in November, the building was being prepared to be set on fire for training purposes.

In addition to the inspection of the site on Ballpark Road, health department officials also inspected the fire department itself on Salter Path Road. At this location, there were three electrical-related violations observed by occupational safety and health investigators.

The Beach-Salter Path Fire Department has 15 work days from the date on the issued citations to either file a notice of contest with the North Carolina Review Committee, to request and informal conference with the Labor Department or just pay the fine.

There are a number of complications that can arise from overexposure to asbestos:

-Mesothelioma - a form of cancer mainly affecting the lining of the lungs.

-Asbestosis - a non-malignant scarring of the lung tissue.

-Asbestos-related lung cancer.

-Non-malignant pleural disease.

Continue reading "Firefighters Exposed to Asbestos-Related Work Hazards in North Carolina" »

Welch Group Environmental LLP of Belton was recently cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for failing to take the appropriate measures to help prevent work-related accidents in South Carolina and on its other work sites. OSHA recently conducted an investigation into one of the company's work sites and noted nearly 20 different health violations. At the work site in question, Welch Group Environmental was hired to help to clean a shooting range and reclaim the lead. After the investigation on this site, OSHA officials concluded the company failed to protect workers from overexposure to lead. All of the fines totaled a penalty of nearly $500,000.

Darlene Fossum, OSHA's area director near the work site, says the company "acknowledged...the dangers associated with lead exposure but continued to allow hazards to exist."

Our South Carolina workers compensation attorneys understand the inspection into the dangerous work site started back in July as a part of OSHA's regional and national emphasis programs for lead. Welch Group Environmental LLP was handed more than 10 willful violations, which came with a total of more than $460,000 in penalties. The company was found to be in violation for several oversights, including:

-Neglecting to provide protection benefits to employees on lead exposure;

-Neglecting to give workers respirators;

-Failing to provide employees with the proper bodily protections;

-Failing to monitor the lead levels in employees' blood;

-Failing to provide employees with changing rooms and shower facilities.

In addition to all of those violations, the company also allowed employees to dry sweep and shovel areas that were contaminated with lead and allowed the workers to have been exposed to levels of lead that were far above the allowable limit.

Welch Group Environmental LLP was also handed nearly five additional serious violations totaling nearly $17,000 in penalties.

Serious Violations:

-Neglecting to make sure workers who were wearing the respirators didn't have facial hair that could have interfered with the seal.

-Not providing the proper respirators to employees who were exposed to levels of lead that were 10 times higher than the maximum concentration.

-Failing to provide employees with blood level test results.

-Neglecting to provide workers with a blood sample analysis, including serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, zinc protoporphyrin, hemoglobin and hematocrit determinations.

Lastly, the company received two more violations with final penalties of just over $1,000 for neglecting to label containers properly that housed protective clothing and for failing to create and enforce a written hazard communication program.

OSHA has required that the company undergo even more inspections to make sure that the proper changes have been made to help to protect its employees.

Continue reading "Company Fined Nearly $500,000 for Failing to Prevent Work-Related Accidents in South Carolina and Elsewhere" »