Articles Posted in Work Accident

The economic downturn has lead to an unprecedented number of mass layoffs, which can mask illegal labor practices, including an employer’s attempt to shed itself of workers who have filed injury claims.

Our Massachusetts work injury lawyers fight for the rights of clients who have been injured on the job or who have been fired in retaliation for filing a work injury claim.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 1,412 mass layoffs occurred in May, resulting in the termination of 135,789 employees. In each case, at least 50 jobs were eliminated. In the 30 months since the economic downturn began — from December 2007 to May 2010 — a total of 60,205 mass layoffs have resulted in the dismissal of more than 6 million employees.

Employers who use layoffs to dismiss injured workers, or workers who have voiced concern about dangerous job conditions, have likely violated the law. Layoffs also pose a number of safety concerns for workers who remain on the job. Fewer employees can increase the demand for productivity and can lead to other safety hazards. Reduced training and the threat of job loss can also put workers at increased risk while making employees hesitant about bringing safety concerns to the attention of management.

Most troubling of all, the threat of layoffs can discourage an employee from filing a work injury claim in the event of an accident, which can have serious consequences. Workers who are injured on the job are entitled to collect through a Massachusetts workers’ compensation claim. However workers’ compensation has strict reporting requirements and other mandates; failure to follow the guidelines can leave an injured employee without the ability to collect. Additionally, many work accidents, including back and neck injuries or exposure to harmful chemicals, can result in medical complications months or even years after the event. In such cases, a worker who has failed to follow the proper procedures in reporting an injury, may not be entitled to collect compensation even if he or she needs additional medical care or becomes disabled as a result of an injury while on the job in Massachusetts.

There are strict laws that prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who are injured on the job or who report dangerous work conditions. These workers may not be dismissed under the guise of a downsizing. Consulting a Boston work injury lawyer can help protect your rights.
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Two employees of NSTAR were injured in a Massachusetts work accident Thursday afternoon after a reported explosion at the utility’s Charlestown facility, the Boston Globe reported.

One worker was severely burned and another suffered smoke inhalation. Both were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital. The workers were performing routine maintenance at a substation adjacent to the Mystic power plant in Everett when the incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. Investigators are trying to determine how and why high-voltage electricity escaped from insulated wire, which caused a “flash incident” and injured the workers.

The company said the injuries were not life threatening. However, anyone injured on the job should seek the advice of a Massachusetts workers’ compensation lawyer to help protect their rights. Complying with reporting requirements and other legal mandates is essential to ensuring that you are protected in the event that future complications make it necessary for you to receive additional medical care or take time off from work. In the event that you later become disabled as the result of a Massachusetts work injury, it will be critical to show that your disability stems from an on-the-job injury.

Failure to follow the appropriate steps in the wake of a seemingly minor work injury can have a drastic impact on your future financial well-being. Tragically, some employees who have been injured on the job fail to seek the advice of a qualified attorney. By the time they determine a company is not acting in their best interests, it can be too late to seek the compensation to which they would have been otherwise entitled.

The Boston Herald report is available here.
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A Danvers man was hospitalized for injuries sustained in a Massachusetts work accident after being sucked into a sausage machine at the DiLuigi Sausage Company, the Salem News reported.

The man was working as part of a cleaning crew when he was partially sucked into a seasoning machine as he was cleaning inside a “vacuum-type cylinder,” according to police.

The machine was somehow switched on while he was still inside, causing him to be pulled underneath; his head and shoulders were lodged in the machine. He was removed from the machine and taken to Beverly Hospital to be checked for internal injuries.

Police say a language barrier prevented them from speaking with the man at length about the accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was called to the scene to investigate.

OSHA received reports of nearly 3.7 million work accidents in 2008 and investigated 5,214 fatal work injuries. The most common injuries involved sprains and strains, followed by back injuries and falls.

Highway accidents were the most common cause of fatal work injuries (1,044), followed by falls (658) and workplace homicide (453).
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