There are 12 workplace fatalities everyday in the United States. While that number has greatly decreased in the last 40 years (38 worker deaths per day in 1970) due to strict OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards, the fact that 12 people per day leave for work and never return home to their families is incredibly alarming.
One area in particular is likely increasing the fatality statistic, and that is the construction industry. OSHA reports that almost 6.5 million people work on over 250,000 construction sites in the United States. This means that millions of people are subjected to hazardous conditions, heavy/lethal machinery, and an overall dangerous environment everyday.
People working on construction sites are subjected to the following dangerous conditions daily, resulting in a large number of workplace injuries:
- Asbestos, solvents, chemical burns
- Manual labor, including carrying heavy loads
- Collapsing of trenches/scaffolding
- Electric shock, excessive noise
- Falls from extreme heights, being struck by objects
- Injury associated with the use of equipment such as cranes and forklifts
- Injury from failure to maintain safety precautions or failure to wear the correct safety equipment
- Injuries from repetitive motion
- Traumatic brain injury resulting from head injuries
Workplace injuries are handled strictly through the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
This means that an injured worker is only able to collect a certain amount as compensation for his or her injury. Often, that amount of money is not as much as the victim would have been entitled to under an ordinary negligence claim. However, the workers’ compensation process is much more streamlined and efficient than filing a personal injury claim.
If your injury was a result of the negligence of someone other than your employer (a third party), you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and compensation from the third party through a personal injury claim.
Every case is different, so you if you or someone you love was hurt at work, you need to call me right away at 1 (800) 556-4769. I will help you navigate this complicated process, get the compensation you need, and the answers you deserve about your injury. As your Ohio workers’ compensation lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For 33 years, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio.” You can reach Tim by email at tmisny@misnylaw.com or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.