Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Labor Department, the rate of fatal injuries for farmers and ranchers is about 38.5 per 100,000 fulltime workers, reports Philly.com. This is surprisingly higher than the rate of fatal occupational injuries for occupations that are known to be dangerous, such as firefighting (4.4) and police officers (13.1).

Farmers and ranchers face many dangers, such as overturned tractors; entanglements in combines, balers, and other farm machinery; getting trapped in silos or grain elevators; and getting kicked or trampled by livestock. Farmers can also be exposed to fatal exposures like toxic spills and fumes, fires, and accidental poisonings.

There were about 4,340 fatal workplace injuries in the U.S. in 2009. Fishers/fishing workers had the highest rate of fatal injuries, followed by logging workers, airplane pilots and then farmers and ranchers. There were 2,130 transportation-related work fatalities that year, which is more than one-fifth of all fatalities.

If you have sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of your employment, you have a potential workers’ compensation claim. Injuries may occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities; all of which may be able to be covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

The Pennsylvania work injury attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have successfully represented countless clients who have been injured while on the job. It is important to have legal help when dealing with a serious work injury. Call today for a free initial consultation regarding your work accident.

Recently, an employee at a manufacturing plant in Hanover, Pennsylvania was injured while at work. He was operating material handling equipment and accidentally backed it into himself. According to The York Dispatch, the worker cut his leg, which required stitches. He also injured his ribs.

Every year, there are hundreds of machinery accidents in workplaces across the United States. In 2009, 414 workers were killed after they were struck by an object or equipment, and an additional 112 workers were killed after they were caught in running equipment or machinery.

Pennsylvania machinery accidents can involve many different types of machinery, including crane accidents; fork lift rollovers; missing or faulty safety switches and guards on machines; workers losing fingers, hands, or arms while working on lathes, slicers, mills, rollers and other equipment; workers backed over by machinery; malfunctioning equipment that causes injury or death; and many other types of accidents caused by a wide range of equipment. If machinery is not properly designed or created by a manufacturing company, or is not maintained properly by a workplace, it may result in machinery accidents in PA that that can seriously or fatally injure workers.

If an employer is found to be negligent and their actions contributed to a workplace accident in Pennsylvania, the injured worker and their family may be entitled to receive compensation for the worker’s injuries and related losses. If you or a close family member has been injured or a family member has been killed in a machinery accident in PA, the Philadelphia machinery accident attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP may be able to help. Call 1-888-684-7192 today for a free consultation.

Recently, a snow plow truck driver was injured in Pottsville, PA. As the worker was getting out of his truck, it slid and knocked him to the ground. The driver was then dragged approximately 30 feet and pushed into a building. According to the report on WNEP, the driver’s leg was injured in the accident.

It’s fortunate that the plow truck driver was not injured more seriously. This is just one example of the dangers of snow removal. Driving a snow plow is tiring work and is similar to what commercial truck drivers and many other motorists experience. It’s important for all drivers, especially those of larger trucks, to be extra careful when operating their vehicle. Another way to help prevent snow plow accidents is for drivers of these vehicles to check all of their equipment before each use to make sure the vehicle is working properly.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2009, there were 1,682 work-related deaths from transportation incidents, more than any other work-related fatality. There were 265 workers that year who were struck and killed by a vehicle. Pennsylvania had 55 transportation-related worker deaths that year.

The snow plow driver would be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney. The skilled lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP can help workers who have suffered a work injury receive adequate compensation for their injury and related losses. We can conduct all of the necessary research that is required to effectively and successfully pursue a work injury case. If you have recently been injured while on the job, call us today at 1-888-684-7192.

Several U.S. steel workers have filed lawsuits against Power Piping Co. after a July 14 explosion at the Steel Corp’s Clariton Coke works. According to an article in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the explosion injured 20 people. The lawsuits claims that Power Piping created unsafe working conditions. The US Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is still investigating the explosion.

OSHA routinely inspects all kinds of work environments for hazards relating to building codes, equipment maintenance, ventilation and more. They have the power to regulate workplaces for dangerous conditions. OSHA also maintains resources at its website for workers to use if they see dangers in their places of work. The regulations put in place by OSHA can be a significant part of a work injury claim if the agency did not catch an unaddressed safety issue prior to an injury. Pennsylvania work injury lawyers such as those at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP know about OSHA statutes and their relevance to cases in which workers suffer injury on the job.

Steel workers were among the occupation groups with a high number of fatalities. In 2008, there were about 46 fatalities per 100,000 workers. The Bureau of Labor statistics reported that the number of fatal work injuries involving fires and explosions went up 14 % from 2007 to 2008. And, there were 173 deaths caused by fires or explosions in 2008.

If you have been injured in a Pennsylvania workplace explosion, you would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced worker’s compensation attorney. They can file a third party claim against a negligent party other than their employer, which includes contractors, sub-contractors or the manufacturers of defective products.

Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP place a great emphasis on serious personal injuries sustained in a work environment. Please call today for a free consultation.

A worker was injured on October 11 when a two-story building collapsed in Pittsburgh, PA. According to WHTM, the worker was knocking bricks from a wall when the building collapsed and he became pinned under some of the rubble.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that in the United States, there were a total of 5,071 fatal work injuries recorded in 2008. About 969 were in the construction in industry—108 workers died from being crushed by collapsing materials. Pennsylvania had 240 fatal work-related injuries that same year.

Building collapses can result in severe injuries and even death. Construction sites are often associated with a higher amount of vulnerability as opposed to the environments of a common office or shop. Implementing strict and compelling safety procedures at these construction sites can reduce and prevent many hazards, injuries, and death.

Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP place great emphasis on construction site injuries. They have the knowledge and skill to represent cases of severe injury or death from situations including malfunctioning machinery accidents (conveyers, forklifts, cranes, tractors, augers, etc.), faulty tools (saws, grinding wheels, sprayers, etc.), defective ladders and scaffolding accidents as well as the collapse of floors and walls.

If you have been injured after a building collapse, you would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced worker’s compensation attorney. If negligence was caused by someone other than your employer, than you can file a third party claim. The Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP offer a free consultation.

On October 5, a sanitation worker in Baltimore, MD suffered serious injuries to his leg when he was run over by a garbage truck. According to the BaltimoreSun.com, the garbage truck ran over the worker accidentally after he tried to step onto the truck, but slipped and fell into the road.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported in 2008 about 5.5 out of 100 workers in the waste management/remediation industry were injured. Refuse collectors were listed among the nation’s most dangerous occupations in 2007.

There are many ways sanitation workers can sustain injuries in Pennsylvania on the job accidents. They can be hit by impatient drivers trying to bypass a garbage truck. Defective equipment can lead to unsafe working conditions. A refuse truck with mechanical problems can cause injury to its operators, resulting in long-term injuries or even death. Crews can also be injured from slipping, tripping, or falling on debris, oil, or other chemicals.

If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, you can enlist the help of a qualified work injury lawyer. The Philadelphia work accident injury attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have experience in dealing with personal injuries suffered by sanitation workers and can help you or your loved one seek compensation for pain, suffering, lost wages, permanent disability, medical costs, emotional trauma, and more.

The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have represented countless work injury victims with great success. We use our experience and wealth of knowledge to help represent victims of injury on a daily basis. Call our lawyers today for a free consultation at 888-684-7192.

On September 22, one worker was burned and another suffered hearing loss from a Pennsylvania explosion accident at Novey Recycling, near Clearfield County. According to wjactv.com, the workers were using a metal barrel as a workbench. Pressure built up inside the barrel and caused it to explode.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, thousands of U.S. workers are killed or seriously injured in accidents at industrial plants. Approximately 4,340 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2009.

Poor supervision, lack of communication, poor worker training, and use of defective machinery or tools all contribute to workplace accidents. These types of accidents occur when OSHA safety regulations are not followed. An investigation may show that the company did not properly protect employees against this kind of industrial accident.

The workers who were injured at Novey Recycling would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. The Pennsylvania workers' compensation attorneys at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano will examine and analyze the area the accident occurred to make sure that everything was operating properly and that the company and its workers were following proper guidelines. They also have experience with “third party claims,” which are claims filed against parties other than the employer in a workplace accident.

If a worker is seriously injured and unable to work for months, workers compensation benefits may not cover the expenses these families face and third party claims would be much more. Cherry, Fieger & Marciano offer free and confidential consultations. Call (888) 684-7192 today.

For the second time in a month, workers were injured at the same construction site. On September 13, a beam fell from about 30 feet, injuring four workers. The site is at Yale University, where they are building a chiller power plant.

According to this article on Middletownpress.com, one worker was pinned under the beam and suffered serious injuries.

It is concerning that last month there was an incident at the same site in which a worker was injured and The Occupational Safety Health Administration will conduct an investigation. Construction is a dangerous profession and, in 2007, it accounted for 1,178 on-the-job deaths. It had the most fatalities of any industry sector that year. Although the number of fatalities in construction decreased by 16 % in 2009, workers in construction still had the most fatal injuries of any industry.

The University construction worker, and any employee injured on the job, may want to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. Although employers are often to blame when an employee is injured on the job, these types of injuries can also be caused by a third party, such as a subcontractor, or the manufacturers of a defective product. A third-party claim is usually worth more than the average workers’ compensation case and will help injured workers recover compensation for medical bills, physical therapy, loss of livelihood and more.

If you have been injured in a construction accident in Pennsylvania, you may have a potential workers’ compensation claim. The Philadelphia construction accident injury lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano offer a free consultation and a comprehensive case evaluation to injured workers and their families.

According to this article on yahoo.com, on July 22, two workers were killed and one was injured in an explosion at a zinc smelting pot in Monaca, PA. Another worker was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

It is unknown what caused the Pennsylvania workplace explosion accident. OSHA previously cited the plant for various violations. Another worker at the plant suffered serious burns in an accident at the plant a few years ago.

Negligence, lack of training, or failure to follow safety procedures may have caused this tragic work accident in PA. Thousands of U.S. workers are killed or seriously injured in accidents at industrial plants and many of these occur when OSHA safety regulations are ignored.

The families of the workers who died are entitled to worker’s compensation benefits through their employer. The law requires every company in Pennsylvania to carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. However, these benefits may not be enough to cover a family’s loss of income.

They should seek the counsel of a skilled Pennsylvania workplace wrongful death lawyer who can determine if malfunctioning equipment or a defective piece of machinery contributed to these deaths. If a third party was at fault, they may be held liable for the accident. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury arising while working at an industrial plant in Pennsylvania, please call Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano for a free consultation.

According to this article on thedailyreview.com, a rig worker was injured on July 26 at the Chesapeake Energy Corp. in Leroy Township, PA.

The injury happened during a drilling operation at the site. Although the injury was not life threatening, the worker had to be taken by emergency helicopter to a hospital.

Working at a natural gas rig is a dangerous job. According to the CDC, increases in oil and gas extraction activity were correlated with an increase in the rate of fatal occupational injuries in this industry, with an annual fatality rate of 30.5 per 100,000 workers (404 fatalities) during 2003--2006, approximately seven times the rate for all workers (4.0 per 100,000 workers). Researchers and public health officials should collaborate with industry groups to establish engineering and process controls that remove workers from potentially dangerous machinery while drilling and servicing oil and gas wells.

The worker who suffered from the PA workplace accident would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. If it is determined that a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The dedicated Pennsylvania workers’ comp lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

A worker from New Jersey filed a $6 million lawsuit against Kleen Energy Systems, as well as three other companies who operated that facility. According to this article on CBS3.com, the man was injured in February in a power plant explosion in Connecticut. Six people were killed when the facility exploded and fifty people were injured.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that safety guidelines weren’t followed and companies disregarded industry procedures. Thousands of U.S. workers are killed or seriously injured in accidents at industrial plants. Many of these workplace accidents occur due to OSHA safety violations. Poor supervision, lack of communication, poor worker training, and use of defective machinery can also contribute to these accidents.

Anyone who was injured in such a tragic incident as this plant explosion would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Worker Injured in Power Plant Explosion Files Lawsuit" »

An article released by CentreDaily.com stated that two employees working with the Ultra Resources well in Pennsylvania were seriously injured when a pipe coupling fell apart above them. The men were performing their normal duties when the coupling came apart sending metal debris flying everywhere. One man was struck in the head by a metal piece from the coupling and the other man ended up with broken ribs after being struck by metal debris as well.

Injuries suffered due to construction work can lead to months, if not years of rehabilitation and are often the most complicated cases to handle. Any worker who has sustained injury in Pennsylvania while on duty or in the course of performing duties required by their title can file a Philly workers’ compensation claim.

Companies in Pennsylvania are required by law to have PA workers compensation insurance which covers employee injuries due to work related accidents, illness caused by working conditions, as well as injuries resulting in death. Employers must provide adequate medical coverage, compensation for lost wages, and death benefits. It is when a company denies the proper amount of coverage necessary or when a “third party” is involved that you may take your claim.

Continue reading "PA Industrial Accident Leaves Two Employees Seriously Injured" »

A construction worker was seriously injured on June 15 in an accident at a new courthouse project on Federal Street in Salem, MA. According to this article on Boston.com, the worker, who is in his early thirties, received serious injuries to both of his legs after he was hit by a concrete slab. The article said that the slab was about five inches thick.

The worker was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The victim here would be well advised to contact a skilled work injury lawyer who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

The dedicated Philadelphia work accident injury attorneys at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

The Associated Press reported that on June 7, a crew drilling a natural gas well through an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia (about 55 miles southwest of Pittsburgh) hit a pocket of methane gas that ignited. It triggered an explosion that burned seven workers.

The seven workers were taken to the West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh.

Since methane is a known risk when working near old mines, the company typically takes a variety of precautions, including venting systems.

Five of the injured workers were employed by Union and two worked for BJ Services Co. of Houston, Texas.

The crew runs a safety check at the start of each shift and was just preparing to do that when the blast occurred.

The article reported that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created a program to deal with gas drilling in the vast Marcellus shale fields about five years ago and has been proactively inspecting sites to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

The victims here would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation

The dedicated Pennsylvania work injury accident attorneys at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

A cafeteria worker at Elk Lake Elementary School in Susquehanna County was injured on May 28 at work. According to this article on www.thetimes-tribune.com, the woman was preparing breakfast for students in the morning when a piece of kitchen equipment malfunctioned and she received an electrical shock.

The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated and released. The school district’s electrical contractor is inspecting the equipment.

The cafeteria worker would be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania workers compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Susquehanna County Cafeteria Worker Injured by Electrical Shock" »

On May 20, a cleaning man was taken to a hospital after being sucked into a machine at a sausage-making company in Danvers, MA. The workplace accident happened when the man was cleaning the vacuum-type machine that is used to season the meat at DiLigui Sausage Co.

According to this article by The Associated Press on Philly.com, his head and shoulders became stuck in the machine after it somehow activated while being cleaned.

The article reported that the man was freed from the machine and was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.

If the victim suffered any injuries, he would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury in Pennsylvania arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential PA workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, the Philadelphia workers compensation attorneys at Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP can help you. These dedicated PA injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

A man installing a 1.5-ton steel safe at a bank in Colorado on May 13 died after it slipped and crushed him.

According to this article from The Huffington Post, the man was pinned against a door, which trapped a co-worker in the room with him.

The article reported that firefighters had to cut through a wall to reach the man and the other worker. The other worker was not injured.

The fatal workplace accident is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The victim’s family would be well advised to contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated Pennsylvania work accident injury attorneys will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

A gas industry worker suffered a traumatic injury on May 11 during an accident in Susquehanna County, PA. According to this article on The Times-Tribune, the man was working at a Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. drill rig site. He was struck in the head by a casing pipe and taken by ambulance to Endless Mountains Health Systems and then flown by helicopter to another hospital.

The worker was employed by a subcontractor, Caliber Casing Oil Field Service of Vernal, Utah.

The victim here would be well advised to contact an experienced Worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced Pennsylvania work injury attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by PA workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano, LLP can help you. These dedicated PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

On April 14, a maintenance worker was hospitalized after a fire at a department store in a mall outside Reading, PA. According to this article by the Centre Daily Press, the 52-year-old male worker from Sinking Spring was in critical condition after the fire in the Boscov’s department store at the Berkshire Mall.

The man was working on an air conditioning cooling tower when flames shot out of the unit and struck him in the face. He was taken to the burn center at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

The victim and his family would be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Reading-Area Mall Store Fire Injures Worker" »

According to this article on www.azcentral.com, a cafeteria worker at Hillcrest Middle School in Glendale, AZ was taken to the hospital with minor burn injuries on April 8.

A spokesman for the local Fire Department said that the 30-year-old woman was changing a propane tank in the cafeteria when a small amount of the gas ignited, burning her hands and face.

She was taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor burns.

This woman would be well advised to contact an experienced Worker’s Compensation attorney. Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation. Some types of workers’ compensation injures include construction injuries, repetitive stress to a body part, and environmental hazards.

By law, it is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries and property damage, the experienced Philadelphia workers’ comp attorneys at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano can help you to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay for medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work, and more.

A 47-year-old worker from Winsted, CT was injured on March 17 when a section of a pipe trench collapsed on him. According to this article on CTPost.com, the worker suffered leg and back injuries and was transported to the Bridgeport Hospital trauma unit.

The soil shifted and part of the protective trench box buckled and gave way, burying the worker’s legs and pinning him against an excavator arm.

The man is an employee of K&W Construction Co. of Southbury, CT a subcontractor on a $37 million project. He was leveling the bottom of a 10-foot-deep trench so that concrete pipe could be installed in it.

The worker received advanced life support from paramedics and then was lifted out of the trench in a basket and brought to the hospital.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation. Some types of workers’ compensation injures include construction injuries, repetitive stress to a body part, and environmental hazards.

Continue reading "Worker Injured in Trench Collapse" »

On March 2, a construction worker doing welding work in Cateret, NJ was injured when an explosion caused the doors of his pickup truck to fly off and smash into him.

According to this article on nj.com, the man was welding at a construction site at a Verizon Wireless data center when the explosion erupted. He was the only one injured in the blast.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation. Some types of workers’ compensation injures include construction injuries, repetitive stress to a body part, and environmental hazards.

Continue reading "NJ Construction Worker is Injured in Explosion" »

A temporary worker from Rochester, N.H was injured on February 11, 2010 in an industrial accident at Stonewall Kitchen, in Maine. According to this article on www.seacoastline.com, the man received severe burns and lacerations to his left forearm and wrist when his arm was caught in the blade of a 150-gallon mixer.

The incident has been investigated and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been notified.

The article said that the man was on temporary assignment through Manpower Inc. of Dover, N.H.

A human resources director for Stonewall Kitchen said all workers go through training processes before working in the production environment.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation. Some types of workers’ compensation injures include construction injuries, repetitive stress to a body part, and environmental hazards.

By law, it is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries and property damage, the skilled Philadelphia workers' compensation lawyers at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano can help you to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay for medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work, and more.

On February 7, 2010, an explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems in Connecticut blew out the walls of an unfinished power plant and set off a fire during a test of natural gas lines. According to an article on Philly.com, the explosion killed at least five workers and injured a dozen or more.

The cause of the gas explosion was unknown and is under investigation. It left huge pieces of metal that once encased the plant peeling off its sides. A large swath of the structure was blackened and surrounded by debris, but the building, its roof and its two smokestacks were still standing.

The article said that 50 to 60 people were in the area at the time of the explosion, and multiple contractors were working on the project.

Workers for the construction company, O&G Industries, were purging the gas line when the explosion occurred.

At least a dozen people had injuries ranging from minor to very serious.

Safety board investigators have done extensive work on the issue of gas line purging since an explosion last year at a Slim Jim factory in North Carolina killed four people. They’ve identified other explosions caused by workers who were unsafely venting gas lines inside buildings.

The workers here who sustained any injuries and the families of the workers who died because of the explosion are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Gas Blast at Connecticut Power Plant Kills at Least 5" »

A bridge worker who fell about 50 feet into the Hackensack River, died from his injuries. According to an article, the 55-year-old man from North Arlington, NJ was working for the CSX rail line when he fell from the Wittpenn Bridge on January 29.

The worker made his way to some pilings but lost consciousness due to hypothermia.

Emergency service workers soon hoisted him to the bridge in a basket and took him to a nearby hospital. He died several hours later.

At the time of the accident, the male worker had been on the CSX bridge near the Wittpenn, which connects Jersey City and Kearny along Route 7 in New Jersey.

The worker here is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Worker Dies after Fall from NJ Bridge" »

According to a recent article, federal safety officials are investigating a DuPont chemical plant after a series of leaks that resulted in the death of one worker.

The DuPont Belle plant in West Virginia is on safety shutdown after three leaks were reported. One leak, which released about 1,900 pounds of hazardous methyl chloride, went unnoticed for 5 days.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board are investigating.

On January 23, 2010 a worker was taken to a Charleston hospital after being exposed to the chemical phosgene. The article reported that a 58-year-old man who was a 32-year DuPont employee died on January 24, 2010.

Phosgene is used to make plastics and pesticides, and can damage the respiratory system.
The company reported the methyl chloride leak to emergency officials on January 22. On the 23rd, the worker was taken to the hospital after being exposed to phosgene residue in a transfer line.

Continue reading "W. Va. DuPont Worker Dies after Phosgene Exposure" »

A 33-year-old construction worker died in Southhampton Village, New York on January 4, 2010 when a foundation wall at a worksite collapsed and pinned him underneath. According to a report, the accident may have been the result of poor workmanship and attempts to cut corners.

The worker was trapped beneath the fallen concrete wall.

According the article, the victim was digging under the wall before the collapse to install footings, structural supports that should have been in place before the concrete wall was poured and the forms were removed.

An inspector for the Southampton Village commented that the concrete wall should have been reinforced with steel, but was not reinforced at all.

The construction site is being investigated by the Village Building department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The family of this deceased worker would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Worker Killed in Job Site Accident" »

On December 3, two workers doing maintenance on the roof of Cowboys Stadium fell at lest 50 feet before landing on a rain gutter. According to an Associated Press article that appeared on Philly.com, both workers suffered significant injuries.

The workers were working on the top hatch of the retractable roof venue when they fell.

One worker lost consciousness after breaking a leg and suffering injuries to his head and chest. The other suffered a back injury.

They fell down to what is called a “parapet” (large rain gutter), which likely caused their injuries.
Because temperatures were near freezing at the time, it may have been slick on the roof.

The injured workers were iron workers from Birdair, Inc., who are roofing subcontractors for the stadium.

The article stated that there have been previous accidents at the site, including the death of an electrician who came in contact with a high voltage line.

Continue reading "Fall from Cowboys Stadium Roof Injures Two Workers " »

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that eight workers were injured in an explosion at a middle school in southeastern Virginia on November 29.

According to the article, the workers suffered varying injuries in the blast at Crittenden Middle School.

The workers were employees of T.R. Driscoll Inc. of Lumberton, N.C., a contracting company that had been doing repair work at the school for about five weeks.

Workers were using propane to heat the tar, but the cause of the blast was not determined.
Five workers were taken to nearby trauma centers, and three to emergency rooms.

The explosion sparked a fire and caused a large wall to collapse in the school’s shop area.
The workers here would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Workers Injured in Explosion at Virginia School" »

Two Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge builders were injured on October 29 when a steel structure they were preparing collapsed near the Lehigh River at Parryville. According to an article in The Morning Call, several circles of steel, each with a diameter of about 10 feet, tipped over, hitting the men. The two men were pulled from the steel and taken to an area hospital. Fortunately, they did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

The men were employees of Walsh Construction Co. and were putting together the steel framework for a column to support a Northeast Extension replacement bridge between the Lehigh Tunnel and the Mahoning Valley interchange.

The article said that the cause of the accident was unknown.

Continue reading "Turnpike Bridge-Building Accident Injures 2 Workers" »

One worker was killed and another injured on November 10 when a crane tipped over at the construction site of a Kansas City, Missouri performing arts center. According to an article on KansasCity.com, the two men were in the bucket of the 100-foot-tall JLG Lift when it fell away from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. It then landed across a platform of steel beams.

One of the men was pronounced dead at a hospital and the other was listed in serious but stable condition.

The men were installing steel panels on the building for Detroit-based subcontractor Midwest Steel.

According to the article, the center will be the home of the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and the Kansas City Ballet.

Crane accidents kill up to 82 construction workers each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

Continue reading "Kansas City Crane Accident Kills Worker" »

On November 5, a SEPTA track inspector was struck and killed by an R3 West Trenton train in East Oak Lane. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 34-year-old from Sharon Hill was struck by a southbound train near the Philadelphia-Montgomery County line just south of the Melrose Park station. He died at the scene.

The man was part of a team inspecting tracks that normally carry northbound trains. It was unclear yesterday how fast the train had been traveling.

According to the article, inspecting tracks is a set procedure. SEPTA officials said trains often switch tracks because of equipment issues.

The family of this deceased man would be well advised to contact an experienced Philadelphia worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Track Inspector Hit and Killed by Regional Train" »

An October 9th explosion and fire at an asphalt plant in eastern Pennsylvania injured three workers, two of them critically.

According to an Associated Press article, an electrical panel burst into flames in the control room of the H&K Group’s South Reading Blacktop plant at 11 a.m. on October 9. A male electrical contractor was eating lunch in front of the screen. Two workers, a 57-year-old man and a 49-year-old man were injured after they and others rushed to help the worker who was eating in front of the screen.

The man eating lunch and the 57-year-old were in critical condition October 10 at a nearby hospital. The 49-year-old was treated for smoke inhalation.

The company called the blast a flash electrical fire and says it was the first such accident at the facility. State police and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration have also been investigating.

The families of these injured workers would be well advised to contact an experienced Philadelphia workers' compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Flash Electrical Fire at Asphalt Plant Injures 3" »

On October 12, a mobile crane working on a church steeple toppled near Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, killing the crane operator and injuring a woman standing nearby.

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the orange aerial lift, working at the First Presbyterian Church at 21st and Walnut Streets, fell at about 1:15 p.m. that day. It knocked down a streetlight, sheared off a stoplight, and clipped the roof of a building on the north side of the street.

The crane operator was turning the machine when one wheel rolled over a cable access cover, the heavy lid gave way, the machine wobbled then fell. He was taken to a hospital, and was pronounced dead at 1:42 p.m.

The church had hired Masonry Preservation Group, of Merchantville, N.J. to perform a survey of the church’s stone exterior.

MPG does extensive work in Philadelphia on the maintenance and restoration of historic stone and masonry structures. It brought several of the truck-mounted cranes and set them up around the church.

According to article, the operator turned the crane, one of the four enormous wheels at the base rolled over a cable access panel. It started to tilt and it swayed out about 20 feet into the street. Then it swayed back towards the church. The second time it swung out, it toppled over.
The type of equipment involved in the accident, known as an AWP or aerial lift platform, is not technically considered a crane, and is not subject to the strict regulations put in place by Philadelphia last year.

The family of the crane operator would be well advised to contact an experienced Philadelphia worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Rittenhouse Square Crane Accident Kills Operator" »

A construction worker from Eatontown, Monmouth County, NJ was injured after falling 20 feet while making repairs to a home in Barnegat. According to this article in the Press of Atlantic City, the construction worker was working in an attic at 12 Carriage Way and fell through a ceiling.

He landed on a stairway, breaking his left arm and inuring his elbow.

Police, fire, and paramedic crews responded right away to help him and he was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center.

The construction worker would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Construction Worker Injured After Fall at Barnegat, NJ Home" »

The family of two workers sued International Paper (IP) after an explosion killed a contract worker and injured 22 others at its Redwood, Mississippi plant on May 3, 2008.
According to this Associated Press article on Philly.com, the blast killed a 28-year-old male employee. The two workers who filed the lawsuit and several other workers were severely burned when the 12-story boiler exploded during an attempt to restart it after annual maintenance.

In the lawsuit filed last year, the IP plant acknowledged that the boiler had been shut down for maintenance, there was an explosion, and the company knew workers would be present that day. The company argued that workers did not exercise reasonable care for their own safety.
One of the employees, who was burned over 60 percent of his body, said that workers should have been cleared from the area before the boiler was restarted.

OSHA fined International Paper $77,000 in the months following the explosion for one alleged willful violation and one alleged serious violation.

OSHA also found that some company officials did not share an internal memo about starting the boiler with workers in the facility’s control room, the report said.

A settlement conference is scheduled for Sept. 15 in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Continue reading "IP Mill Explosion Settlement Proposals Due" »

On September 6, two firefighters were hurt after a ladder they were climbing collapsed in western Pennsylvania. According to an article, the accident happened Sunday morning at a fire scene in Monongahela, just outside Pittsburgh.

The men were on a 100-foot ladder when it collapsed and they fell. Fortunately, the injuries are not life-threatening. The article said that the fire started at a downtown pizza shop and then spread to two adjacent buildings.

The injured workers are entitled to Worker’s Compensation. By law, it is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers' compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Continue reading "PA Ladder Collapse Injures 2 Firefighters" »

Two men were injured while working with electrical cables in downtown Washington.
According to an article, D.C. fire crews had received a report of an explosion at the site of several high-voltage feeds.

A utility company (Pepco) spokesman said the contractors were pulling an old underground cable when it touched a live cable, triggering an electrical shock on August 24. One man suffered facial burns and the other suffered smoke inhalation.

The injured utility company workers would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Electrical Accident Injures 2 Workers in Downtown DC" »

On August 27, a worker for a lawn irrigation company was trapped for nearly five hours before being rescued from a muddy hole in Burlington County, NJ. According to an Associated Press article on Philly.com, a 24-year-old of Berlin, NJ was pulled out of the 6-foot deep hole by members of Task Force 1, the state police urban search and rescue unit.

The worker was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The worker became trapped shortly before 1 p.m. on August 27 while trying to repair a leaking water line in a Southampton Township retirement community. Soil and mud around him collapsed, covering him up to this thighs.

The worker in this incident would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Construction Worker Trapped in Muddy Hole Rescued" »

On August 13, two construction workers working on a residence hall at Montclair State University in New Jersey were injured when the hydraulic lift they were working from tipped over.
According to an article, a University spokeswoman said the workers suffered “broken limbs” in the accident and were taken to a nearby hospital.

The building under construction is an unnamed six-story residence hall. It was not immediately clear how high the workers were when the accident happened and the cause is under investigation.

The injured workers at Montclair State University would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "2 Construction Workers Injured at NJ University" »

A Walt Disney World employee died during a stunt show practice on August 17. This is the theme park’s third worker killed on the job this summer. According to an article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, the worker suffered a head injury late August 17 while rehearsing an acrobatic move in the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” and died shortly after. The move required the worker to jump into the air, dive over another performer and land in a tuck and roll onto a mat. The 30-year-old performer had only been with the show a week.

Earlier this month, 47-year-old died four days after being injured in a Magic Kingdom show. He was sword-fighting in “Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial” when he slipped and hit his head on a wall.

In July, a 21-year-old monorail driver was killed when his train and another monorail train collided.

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigator traveled to Disney World this week to begin an investigation that could take up to six months. The probe would be conducted separately from investigations into the two other deaths this summer.

According to the article, some union leaders at the theme park said they were concerned that the resort’s hiring of fewer workers this summer might affect safety. The work force this summer did not increase like it normally does during the busiest time of the year for Orlando’s theme parks. Because of longer park hours and longer lines, they need more staff to cover---this has not been the case this summer.

Continue reading "3rd Worker Killed This Summer at Disney World" »

A blast at an explosives manufacturing plant in Ohio injured 10 workers on July 28. According to an article, the blast was caused by a broken detonating cord. The explosion, which occurred at the Austin Powder Co.’s Red Diamond plant, blew off part of the roof and a wall. This plant employs about 200 people and makes explosives for the mining and construction industries.

The article said that a partially filled spool of cord exploded when a detonating cord broke during the manufacturing process.

The injured workers at the Ohio plant would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Broken Cord Caused Blast Injuring Workers at Ohio Plant" »

A Pennsylvania worker suffered severe injuries to his legs after being run over by a forklift, according to a recent news report. The 48-year-old man was taken to the hospital for treatment after the Pennsylvania workplace accident, which happened in Hatfield Township. Officials are still looking into how and why this forklift accident occurred.

According to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, forklift accidents happen because of many reasons including lack of proper training for workers who have to operate forklift trucks. Forklift accidents could also occur because or improper assignment of forklifts and operators; poor maintenance of forklifts; and the age of the forklifts, which could cause them to fail. Forklift accident can result in catastrophic injuries or even death.

If you have been injured in an industrial accident or construction site accident, you need skilled representation from experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys who will inform you about your legal rights and options. If you are an injured worker, you will be entitled to receive worker's compensation benefits from your employer. If a third party (someone other than your employer) caused your on-the-job injuries, then you may be able to file a third party claim against that individual or entity.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Forklift Accident Injures Worker" »

On July 16, a driver in University City, PA struck three construction workers — including flipping one onto his hood and smashing his windshield — then drove around the block to argue with them. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the man was driving a Chevrolet Malibu east on Chestnut Street approaching 30th Street in Philadelphia when he got stuck in traffic.

The traffic was caused by a construction crew directing trucks loaded with supplies onto a site next to the intersection. First, the angry driver confronted a 33-year-old flagman who was stopping traffic and screamed at him to get out of the way. He then sped into the construction crew and caused a rare case of a pedestrian and work accident in Philadelphia.

The flagman was flipped over the hood of the offender’s vehicle and hit the windshield head first, breaking it. The driver then ran down two other construction workers and drove around again to confront the construction workers one more time. He was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault.

Continue reading "PA Construction Workers Injured by Angry Driver" »

A temp worker at a Camden chocolate processing plant, died on July 8 in a workplace accident after he fell into an eight-foot vat that was mixing and melting chocolate to be used in Hershey’s candy. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the worker was standing on a platform and tossing blocks of solid, raw chocolate into the tank.

The tank was heated at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and paddles inside stirred the chocolate as it was thrown in. When the man fell, one of his three coworkers on the platform immediately rushed to turn the machine off. The two others tried to pull him out.

He was struck by one of the paddles and suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The decedent worked at a plant owned by Lyons & Sons, Inc., which is contracted by Cocoa Services, Inc. to process chocolate.

The mixing process was a daily task performed by the workers.

According to the article, the federal Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the incident.

The family of the deceased worker would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Accident at Hershey Chocolate Plant Kills Worker" »

A transformer explosion caused an underground fire and power outage in a section of Newark, NJ and injured two workers. According to this article on Philly.com by the Associated Press, on June 30 around 11:30 a.m., Public Service Electric & Gas was working on the transformer when it caught fire and exploded.

Workers in the IDT building evacuated the building after they heard a loud boom. Two workers suffered workplace injuries and their conditions are not yet known.

Black plumes of smoke that rose from the ground disappeared as firefighters extinguished debris that ignited. PSE&G has not yet determined the extent of damage and many buildings in downtown Newark were without electricity.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Continue reading "Transformer Blast Injures Workers" »

Police in Port Carbon, Pennsylvania are saying that a construction worker is lucky to be alive after an 88,000-pound backhoe he was operating crashed through part of a Pennsylvania bridge about 70 miles northwest of Philadelphia. According to an Associated Press news report, the backhoe's cab was crushed against the bridge. The worker wasn't seriously injured in this construction accident in Pennsylvania, but a heavyset man would have been killed, officials said. It is not yet clear how or why the crash occurred.

Construction sites are extremely prone to risk of injury or death because of the nature of the job and the heavy equipment involved. Workers often do jobs in high-rise buildings, which make them prone to falls. Construction accidents can result in catastrophic injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and even death. Contractors and sub contractors are required under federal and state law to follow various procedures that will make a construction site safer for workers. All workers are also required to get the necessary training to do their jobs safely.

Continue reading "Worker Escapes Serious Injury in Pennsylvania Construction Accident" »

A 19 year old employee of Zambelli Fireworks Internationale of New Castle, Pa., was hit and killed by pieces of a sand-filled wooden launching container that was shattered by a ground explosion. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, he died of neck trauma at a July Fourth celebration in Quakertown, PA. His death was ruled a workplace accident in Pennsylvania.

The launching device that exploded on the ground is the focus of federal, state, and local investigations into the July 4th death of this fireworks employee.

According to one State police Sgt., there was a malfunction either from the tube itself that shoots the projectile or the charge at the bottom of the tube that propels the device.

Bucks County officials said the teen suffered blunt-force trauma and was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital-Quakertown, PA.

State police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and state and county fire officials are all investigating the tragic PA workplace accident.

The employee’s death was one of five on the Fourth of July for pyrotechnics workers. Four others were killed in a single blast while unloading fireworks on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Fireworks Employee Killed " »

Two monorail trains crashed early morning on July 5 in the Magic Kingdom section of Walt Disney World, killing one train’s operator. According to this article by the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, it was the first fatal crash in the monorail’s 38-year history in the park.

The transit system, which shuttles thousands of visitors around the Disney resort each day, was shut down while authorities investigated the wrongful death accident.

The monorail operator died at the scene of the crash. The other train operator was uninjured, but was taken to a hospital because he was emotionally shaken. Five park guests were treated at the scene.

It is unclear what caused this tragic crash and officials are still sifting through the evidence.
According to the article, the crash happened at the park’s ticket and transportation center.

The family of the deceased operator would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Operator Killed in Walt Disney World Monorail Collision" »

Scott Skirpan, a 50-year-old ex-Marine from Easton, lost both his legs three years ago in a gruesome industrial workplace injury accident in Pennsylvania at a Northampton County landfill. According to this article in The Philadelphia Daily News, the firm that owns the landfill, and Caterpillar Inc. (which made the bulldozer that crushed his legs), agreed to pay Skirpan $16.25 million to settle his negligence lawsuit in mid-trial.

It is one of the largest settlements in Pennsylvania history for a single-victim personal-injury case.

On May 1, 2006, five days into his job as a truck spotter at the Chrin Sanitary Landfill, a massive track loader backed around a pile of garbage and ran him over.

Skirpan’s attorney argued that Chrin Brothers, which owns the landfill, had failed to train their client, and that the Caterpillar didn’t have adequate rear vision. Skirpan was airlifted to St. Luke’s Hospital Trauma Center, arriving in cardiac arrest. He had eleven operations. Ultimately, surgeons had to remove his right leg and part of his right hip, and most of his left leg.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation in Philadelphia.

Continue reading "Worker Wins $16M Settlement" »

One of the changes in the workers’ compensation act, which the insurance carriers initiated in 1997, was the Independent Rating Evaluation or IRE. This change provides that if an insurance carrier requests an IRE with a Bureau appointed physician within 60 days after 104 weeks of the date that the injured worker begins receiving total disability payments and if the impartial physician rates the workers’ disability at less than a 50% impairment of the whole person using the AMA Guidelines, then that injured workers’ claim for benefits will be capped at 500 weeks. This change is quite useful for the insurance carrier because a claim whose exposure is capped at 500 weeks is cheaper to settle than a potential lifetime claim. It is also very difficult to under the AMA Guidelines obtain an impairment rating which is greater than a 50% impairment of the whole person.

But what happens if the insurance carrier fails to file for its IRE within 60 days of the 104 week date that the injured worker begins receiving total disability benefits? In Gardner v. W.C.A.B. (Genesis Health Ventures), 585 Pa. 366, 888 A.2d 757 (2005) the State Supreme Court held that where the insurance carrier misses its filing deadline, there would be no automatic conversion of the injured workers’ potential lifetime claim to a claim for 500 weeks. The Supreme Court held that the insurance carrier must instead file a Petition and litigate its case before the Workers’ Compensation Judge.

Continue reading "The Burden of Proof in an IRE Petition" »

An ammonia leak on June 20 at a poultry processing plant in North Carolina killed one worker and injured four others.

According to this article on Philly.com by the Associated Press, the leak occurred about 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20 at the Mountaire Farms plant in Robeson County, NC (about 16 miles south of Fayetteville).

The worker who died was identified as Clifton Swain, 47, of Fayetteville. Four other workers were taken to hospitals with injuries.

The County Emergency Management Director told The Fayetteville Observer that the leak has been contained.

The ammonia leak happened while workers were doing maintenance work on a piece of machinery at the plant and it has been ruled simply as a workplace accident.

The plant employs 2,500 people. About 30 to 40 people were at the plant when the leak occurred.

The workers from the Mountaire Farms plant who sustained any injuries and the family of the worker who died because of the leak are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Ammonia Leak at NC Plant Kills 1 Worker, Injures 4" »

On June 10 in Austin, Texas, scaffolding on the 11th floor of a building collapsed and two workers who were on it fell to their deaths. A third worker was critically injured. According to this article, four men were on the scaffolding last week when it collapsed. The fourth worker suffered minor injuries.

Authorities do not know what caused the scaffolding to collapse, resulting in the wrongful death of two workers.

The workers here who sustained any injuries and the families of the workers who died because of the collapse are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "2 Workers Killed in 11th Floor Scaffolding Collapse" »

Craig Kelley, a Philadelphia Housing Authority police officer testified in the trial of Zahir Boddy-Johnson on June 5. On February 17, 2008, he was on duty inside a bulletproof-glass enclosed security booth at a Germantown apartment complex when he suffered a workplace injury in PA after Boddy-Johnson shot him with a rifle.

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the officer was on duty alone when he heard a knock at the door of a security booth at the entrance of the Queen Lane Apartments. When he opened the door he was “staring down the muzzle” of a semiautomatic rifle about six feet away. The gunman struck Kelley in the left side of his abdomen, which spun him around and then knocked him down.

Boddy-Johnson, 18, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm on a public street. He could face from 35 to 50 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

Kelley, who has been a PHA officer for 17 years, testified that the bullet remains in his abdomen and that because of his injuries, he has only been able to return to desk work.

Mr Kelley is entitled to Worker’s Compensation in Philadelphia for the injury that he suffered. Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries and property damage, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. Our dedicated and experienced Philadelphia work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay for medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

On June 9, 2009, two people were unaccounted for after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina. According to this Associated Press article on Philly.com, an Emergency Medical Services official said a third person initially declared missing was found and went to the hospital along with 20 other people. Authorities were still searching for two others but it wasn’t clear whether they were inside the building.

Five people who were injured had serious conditions. The article said several workers reported hearing an explosion before the collapse and the workplace injuries ranged from burns to smoke inhalation. Emergency crews were keeping people away because of an ammonia leak.

The Slim Jim plant workers here who sustained any injuries are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through the employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his/her family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.”These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

A Michigan truck driver faces reckless driving charges after his big rig hit a traffic cone and then struck a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation worker on April 30, 2009, according to a report. Truck driver Donald Minehart apparently did not realize that he hit the cone, which then struck a PennDOT supervisor who suffered injuries as a result. Minehart continued to driver and was stopped by troopers. The auto accident occurred in a work zone on Interstate 81 near exit 141.

This is not the first time a PennDOT worker has been injured by a careless driver. In May 2001, Richard Bradley, a PennDOT worker from West Hazleton, died when a teen driver struck him and three others on East Butler Drive in Butler Township. In this particular case, the worker was fortunate to get away without major injuries. However, this workplace injury serves as an important reminder for motorists to drive with caution along freeway construction zones.

Workers who get injured on the job are eligible for workers compensation from their employer. But very often, Pennsylvania workers compensation benefits are not sufficient to pay for medical expenses, loss of earnings or other related costs, especially when it comes to serious injuries. If you have been injured in a Pennsylvania workplace accident, please contact our experienced Philadelphia workers compensation lawyers at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano for a free consultation. Our skilled Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys will fight for your rights and make sure you get fair compensation for your injuries, damages and loss.

Ray Kot, a shift manager at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, was fatally shot May 27 in a storage room just off the casino floor. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a suspect identified by state police as a 57-year-old man from Norristown, PA was arrested inside the casino’s parking garage. Police also recovered a handgun that may have been used in the wrongful death incident.

Kot was pronounced dead about 2 1/2 hours after the shooting.

The shooting apparently happened in a nonpublic area of the casino where gaming supplies are stored. This area is not visible from the casino floor.

Kot was shot in the abdomen and rushed to the trauma unit at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which is handling the investigation, declined to provide further details about what happened or what may have prompted the shooting. No casino patrons or any other employees were injured and no one was evacuated from the casino.
According to the article, the gunman was not a casino employee, and there did not appear to have been a dispute between Kot and the gunman before the incident. State police said the suspect apparently knew Kot from past instances as a patron at the casino.

Kot was an employee at the casino since it opened in 1990.

The shooting was the second incident involving gunshots at the Taj Mahal this year. In January, a suspect in a New York embezzlement case pulled a gun and threatened to kill himself in an office there.

The family of Ray Kot is entitled to worker’s compensation benefits through his employer, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover expenses of a deceased worker’s family. It may be in the family’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Shift Manager Killed On-the-Job at A.C. Casino" »

Thomas Coon, a long-time employee at a New Jersey welding supplies shop was killed when a 60-pound oxygen tank he was filling exploded. According to this article, the 60-year-old victim had worked at the shop for more than 30 years. The company fills tanks with industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and acetylene.

The force of the blast on May 13 at the J.W. Goodliffe and Son building in Linden, NJ damaged a door and a concrete block wall. Nine other people were in the building. Coon was the only one who suffered because of the explosion.

The cause of the workplace accident is not yet known.

The family of Thomas Coon has a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may be in their best interest to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine an incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

If you or someone you love has been injured at work, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Government investigators began sorting through the Dallas Cowboys’ flattened practice facility to determine why fierce winds sent the tent-like structure crashing down during a rookie workout session.

According to an article in the Philadelphia Daily News, twelve people were hurt, including Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who had surgery to stabilize a fractured vertebrae in his neck. Rich Behm, 33, the team’s scouting assistant, was permanently paralyzed from the waist down after his spine was severed. Assistant athletic trainer Greg Gaither, 35, had surgery on his fractured right leg.
Inspectors were looking at the collapse site, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The company that built the facility— Summit Structures LLC of Allentown, PA— issued a statement that said proper engineering was used during the original construction 5 years ago and the installation of the new roof. The president of Summit has been working with team and local officials to “fully assess this severe weather event.”

The employees who were injured here have a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may be in their best interest to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.”These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation in Philadelphia exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

If you or someone you love has been injured at work, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated PA workplace accident lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more. Call 888-845-2706 today for a case evaluation.

A roofer was severely injured from tar burns he got while working on a suburban Philadelphia high school.

According to this article on Philly.com by the Associated Press, the worker was airlifted to a hospital after the May 8 work injury in Fort Washington, PA. He had tar burns over most of his body.

It was not yet clear what caused the workplace injury in Philadelphia.

The roofer here has a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may be in his best interest to also contact an experienced Philadelphia worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine an incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Eight firefighters and a gas company worker were hurt May 7 in a gas explosion next to a pregnancy clinic in Maryland.

According to this article on Philly.com, a natural gas leak occurred on May 7 at a shopping center in Prince George’s County, MD. The gas company employee who was hurt was working on a gas line at the time of the blast.

Two firefighters were admitted to the burn unit at the Washington Hospital Center.

The article said a board member of the Forestville Pregnancy Center called 911 to report the leak and then the store exploded.

The gas leak might have been caused by recent renovations in the empty storefront.

The worker who was injured here has a potential workers’ compensation claim. It may also be in a worker’s best interest to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled Philadelphia work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

An audit of a nuclear weapons complex in South Carolina says the construction site did not meet several safety standards when constructing a new facility and could have resulted in a serious construction accident. According to an article, the Department of Energy released a report in April that a mistake was found at the Savannah River site near the South Carolina-Georgia border that could have resulted in a spill of high-level radioactive waste.

The safety issues involved a facility that is being built to convert weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for commercial nuclear reactors.

The report stated that three structural components were obtained and installed by the prime contractor at Savannah River during construction of the mixed oxide fuel fabrication (MOX) facility that did not meet safety specifications.

The faulty steel was discovered after a piece of it broke during construction.

According to the article, these substandard items led to costly and time-consuming remedial action to ensure that nonconforming materials and equipment would function within safety margins.

The Department of Energy’s report said that weaknesses in internal control could have led to installing critical components that didn’t meet standards and could have injured workers and the public.

If any worker at this South Carolina site had been injured here, he or she would have a potential workers’ compensation claim. It is usually in a worker’s best interest to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine an incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for an accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

In Pennsylvania, every company must carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation in Philadelphia exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

If you or someone you love has been injured at work, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

A Pennsylvania state trooper is recovering from an injury he got from a chemical dripping from a leaky truck. According to an article, it happened April 28 at a rest area near the Tafton exit of Interstate 84 in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The injured trooper was airlifted to a hospital. Two other troopers, as well as three highway inspectors, were also taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Hazardous materials workers were called in to clean up the chemical. It was not yet known what type of chemical injured the trooper.

Like any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment, this Trooper has a potential Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claim. An injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities - and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

It is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation in Philadelphia is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

It may be in the worker’s and their family’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who will carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced Philadelphia work injury attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

An explosion at a Los Angeles-area oil refinery caused hundreds of thousands in damage and left one worker with minor work injuries. According to this article by the Associated Press, no evacuations were required at the plant or the surrounding neighborhood.

The blast occurred on April 22 as workers were re-lighting a pair of 100-foot-high furnaces at Paramount Petroleum in Paramount, CA (about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles).

According to the article, a build up of gas caused the explosion.

One worker was injured and taken to a hospital.

Although there were no leaking fumes that would require evacuations, damages to the furnaces and surrounding structure totaled an estimated $800,000

If the plant worker here sustained any injuries, he would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through his employer, Paramount Petroleum. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you. These dedicated and skilled Pennsylvania work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

Investigators are looking into the cause of a construction accident at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado that injured a construction worker in early April. According to an article in USA Today, the accident occurred at a new St. Anthony Hospital that is under construction at the center.

A U.S. Geological Survey employee told The Denver Post he was eating lunch and watching the construction when the crane collapsed and twisted while lifting a beam.

The article said that the injured worker drove himself to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries.

The construction worker here is entitled to Workers’ Compensation through his employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” Suing a third party involves claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Crane Accident in Denver, CO Injures Worker" »

A worker was injured after an explosion at a plant in Maryland earlier this month. According to an article in USA Today, the explosion happened on April 6 at the Tobacco Tech in Skykesville, MD.

Maryland Police said that the lid of a tank used to make tobacco flavoring blew off and fluid and vapors were expelled. A worker who fled the scene fell and hit his face on the concrete floor. He was pulled to safety by the plant manager and another worker and then flown to Shock Trauma.

The tobacco plant worker is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits through his employer, Tobacco Tech. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.

Continue reading "Worker Injured at Tobacco Plant" »

A former plant manager for a Warren County, NJ pipe company was sentenced to prison for a conspiracy to violate environmental rules and compromise worker safety.

According to an article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, John Prisque, of Bethlehem, Pa was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Trenton to a 70-month term.

Four other employees of Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. also face sentencing.

Prisque was convicted of obstructing a federal investigation and violating clean air and water regulations.

Atlantic States was convicted of polluting the Delaware River in addition to lying to investigators about safety conditions at its Phillipsburg plant where one worker was killed and several others suffered serious injuries.

The Atlantic States workers who were killed or injured at work in Pennsylvania are entitled to Workers Compensation benefits through their employer. These benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his or her job for a long time. It may be in the best interest of the workers and their families, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incidents to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Worker Safety Compromised by Manager at New Jersey Pipe Plant " »

A Scott County, Iowa jury awarded more than $7 million to a Wisconsin man who fell three stories in a construction accident.

According to an article that appeared in USA Today, Allen Frohne was a sub-contractor who had been doing gutter work at a Holiday Inn Express in Leclaire, Iowa in 2005. The hotel was under construction at the time. Frohne fell when a lift tipped over and he suffered permanent injuries.

The award was made against Leclaire Hotel Group, LLC and Gibbs Construction.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential PA workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Workers compensation benefits often are inadequate and may not be enough to cover a worker and his family, especially if the incident involves serious injuries that could keep the worker away from his/her job for a long time. It may be in the worker’s and their family’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney in Philadelphia who will carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Injured Worker Awarded $7 Million by Jury" »

An explosion at a chemical plant near St. Louis, MO left a worker badly burned and the plant damaged.

According to this article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, the explosion happened on April 12 at the SantoLubes LLC plant. It occurred in a building that housed different chemicals to produce insecticides after workers began a mixing process.

The injured worker was hospitalized and has burns over 30% of his body.

Like any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment, this chemical plant worker has a potential workers’ compensation claim. A workplace accident in Philadelphia and throughout the nation can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

It is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job, or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Continue reading "Worker Injured by Blast at Chemical Plant" »

Bristol Township police officers Michael Egan and Mark Buzby suffered debilitating leg injuries on Aug. 27, 2005. They were severely injured by a drunken and uninsured driver and then cheated out of insurance benefits by their own township manager and three insurance company employees. Egan and Buzby were entitled to Workers’ compensation benefits. However, in many Pennsylvania workers compensation cases, workers and their families do not receive adequate compensation for any lost income. In such cases, a skilled Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer will be able to look into whether there are any “third-party claims.”

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the officers had been investigating an accident on Route 13 in PA when the drunken and uninsured driver struck them. Egan had to have one of his legs amputated and Buzby underwent at least 18 operations. Now, both officers can perform only light administrative work.

The officers sought uninsured motorist liability benefits from the township, but were denied.

They were told the township had turned down such coverage before the accident, and were shown rejection documents to prove it.

Suing a third party in Philadelphia could include a party or entity other than an employer, such the bar who served the driver who hit the officers. If that bar knowingly served him alcohol while he was intoxicated, they could be held liable for the injuries he caused after he got into his car.

According to the article, the documents had been fabricated and backdated to deny the officers benefits. A Bucks County grand jury found a former Township Manager and three USI-Mid-Atlantic employees (Bristol’s insurance broker) guilty of forgery, tampering with public records, and other crimes.

Continue reading "Bristol Township Police Officers Injured On-the-Job, Cheated Out of Benefits" »

For the second time in less than a year, a carbon monoxide leak at the Superfresh in Havertown, PA on March 30 caused the evacuation of 26 employees. According to this article in the Delaware County Times, three of the employees were hospitalized as a result of their workplace injury in Pennsylvania.

In August 2008, 32 people were hospitalized after an elderly woman collapsed. Authorities found carbon monoxide poisoning coming from a malfunctioning bakery oven.

The supermarket was evacuated in the early a.m. of the 30th and sealed off for a couple hours as paramedics ascertained the condition of employees. Three store employees have elevated counts of carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the article, the cause of the leak was a malfunctioning exhaust fan in the bakery area of the store.

Many of the nearby stores in the shopping center were also closed and employees were prevented from entering.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. A Philadelphia personal injury or work related accident can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Superfresh Employees Hospitalized after Carbon Monoxide Leak" »

An explosion in a plastic manufacturing plant in Orange County, CA has killed two people and injured a third person. According to the article by the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, the force of the blast on March 19 blew a concrete wall in the Solus Industrial Innovations building and shook a fire station across the street.

Firefighters rushed inside and found two bodies. Another worker was taken to a hospital for severe work injuries. There were three workers who were outside the building who declined treatment.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

The injured worker and the families of the workers who died are entitled to Worker’s Compensation through the manufacturing plant.

By law, it is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation in Philadelphia exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers' compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim and the right to seek a skilled personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.

Whether your injury was a simple slip and fall, or involves serious injuries, Cherry, Fieger & Marciano can help you. Our dedicated and experienced PA work injury lawyers will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay for medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.

An Irish Pub bar employee in Atlantic City was fatally stabbed and a colleague suffered serious work injury when they tried to break up a fight at the establishment.

According to the article on Philly.com, authorities do not know what started the brawl at the pub, which broke out at about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday March 21. Investigators remained at the scene for several hours collecting evidence, and the bar remained closed as of early Saturday afternoon.

The Atlantic County Prosecutors Office did not identify either employee, but they did say the injured worker had been hospitalized.

The injured worker, as well as the worker who died at the Irish Pub, are entitled to worker’s compensation. The family of the decedent may even seek a skilled wrongful death attorney. By law, it is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers' compensation in Philadelphia is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Continue reading "Worker Killed, Another Hurt in NJ Bar Brawl" »

Three people were hospitalized on March 15 after a natural gas explosion destroyed a truck and sent a flaming tank hurtling into the air near a busy street in Pasadena, CA. According to the article on Philly.com by the Associated Press, one person was critically injured by the blast and two others were seriously hurt. The truck belonged to Dy-Dee Diaper Service, part of California Linen, and all three victims were company employees.

The article stated that the explosion occurred when a worker at the California Linen Services textile rental business was transferring natural gas. A tank was blasted 1,000 feet into the air and then landed 200 feet away across the street.

The injured workers will be entitled to workers compensation benefits from their employer. It may be in their best interest, however, to also contact an experienced workers compensation attorney, who will carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "Workers Injured On the Job in Natural Gas Blast in California" »

Survivors of a crane crash, neighbors, and elected officials gathered on March 15 to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly construction accident that killed six construction workers and a tourist. They observed a moment of silence for the victims.

According to the article on Philly.com by the Associated Press, the crane collapsed as it was being lengthened during the construction of a high-rise apartment building.

Three separate investigations blamed faulty rigging of an 11,000-pound crane part in the collapse. According to the article, workers attached the wrong number and type of protective slings to the steel brace meant to attach the crane to the tower under construction. This caused the brace to fall, which knocked out lower attachments to the building, resulting in the crane toppling into the quiet residential neighborhood near the United Nations.

A four-story town house was demolished and more than a dozen other buildings were damaged. After the crane accident, the city’s buildings commissioner resigned and the city passed dozens of new rules overseeing construction and cranes.

Continue reading "Anniversary of Deadly NYC Crane Collapse" »

Ten Sunoco contract workers were possibly exposed to a chemical vapor release on March 11 at the company’s South Philadelphia oil refinery.

According to the article in the Philadelphia Daily News, the workers were taken to the Sunoco medical clinic on site for evaluation and to one of two hospitals for further tests.

The company could not divulge the extent of their injuries and did not know whether they had been released from the hospitals.

The article stated that there was “no impact to the surrounding community.”

Sunoco is investigating the cause of the accident as well as what chemical that was released.

The United Steelworkers Union is urging the company to find the cause of the release so that this type of accident on-the-job in Pennsylvania or in any other state will not happen again.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Sunoco Workers Suffer On the Job Injuries" »

Workers who formerly worked for a chemical laboratory in Pennsylvania may be able to take advantage of a government compensation plan for exposure victims to the environmental toxins, according to this UPI news report. A former employee at the Vitro Manufacturing Co. in Canonsburg in the 1950s told news media outlets that she did not know the tests she was running were of radioactive materials. She said she knew she was dealing with uranium but no one ever told her about the effects of radiation.

The employee said she only became aware after she got diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Although she does not have cancer now, she may qualify for at least $150,000 in workers' compensation from the federal government, the news report states. The U.S. Department of Labor has ruled that former employees of Vitro would be treated as a "special exposure" group under an eight-year law that compensates employees at former nuclear weapons plants. This designation allows Vitro employees or their families to receive a $150,000 payment and coverage of certain medical costs if they worked at the plant for more than 250 days between 1942 and 1957 and if at a later date, were diagnosed with one of 22 cancers.

Pennsylvania law requires that every employer carry workers compensation insurance that provides compensation in case the worker is injured or killed on the job or as in this case, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding the job. Workers compensation benefits can include medical costs, lost wages and death benefits. If you or a loved one has been injured on-the-job in Pennsylvania or believe that you have suffered adverse health effects as a result of your work environment, please call the top Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano, LLP for a free consultation.

Eight miners who were trapped underground for more than three days in 2002 have settled workers' compensation lawsuits against the mine’s operator and an engineering firm that drew the maps they used when they drilled into a flooded abandoned mine.

The Associated Press reported in an article that nine miners at PBS Coals’ Quecreek Mine in Somerset became trapped in a flooded tunnel on July 24, 2002. They dug into the mine while relying on outdated maps that showed it was 300 feet away.

The men were pulled from the ground in a dramatic rescue 77 hours later.

According to a report, eight of the miners have settled lawsuits against Quecreek Mine, the mine operator, PBS Coals, and the engineering firm that certified the maps. The monetary award to the miners is confidential. The companies do not admit to any negligence.

The report also said that a second group of miners who made it to safety also sued the companies and will share in the settlement.

In November, a judge issued PBS Coals and Musser Engineering fines of $55,000 each The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration had suggested fines of $5,000 each. The companies are appealing the fines.

Continue reading "Quecreek Miners’ Work Injury Lawsuits Settled" »

One man died and three others have been seriously injured in a blast at a south Louisiana oil facility. According to this article, the explosion happened around noon on March 10 at a Marathon Petroleum Co. pipeline facility in Vacherie, LA. The company stores and feeds crude oil to the company’s refinery in Garyville.

According to police in Louisiana, a crude oil pipeline was shut down for repairs at the St. James Pipeline Station when a welding crew apparently ignited fumes. There was no fire after the blast, but a worker was killed and three others were hospitalized with burns.

The family of the worker who died, as well as the injured workers, will be entitled to workers compensation benefits from their employer. It may be in the family’s best interest, however, to also contact an experienced workers compensation attorney, who will carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing.

Continue reading "On the Job Explosion Kills 1 and Injures 3 in Louisiana Pipeline Blast" »

Former nuclear workers at a western Pennsylvania plant who are sick could receive compensation under a government program.

According to this article from the Fort Mill Times website, the Department of Labor announced that Atomic Weapons Employer employees who worked at Vitro Manufacturing in Canonsburg, Pa., during a set period in the 1940s and '50s are eligible.

Former workers diagnosed with one of 22 specific cancers are presumed to have received it from working at the plant and will receive compensation. Under the program, a worker’s family would also be eligible.

By law, it is required that every company in Pennsylvania carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers’ compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Workers Compensation for Nuclear Employees " »

The engineer of a Metrolink commuter train that crashed and killed 25 and injured at least 130 people in California last year, was planning to let a railroad fan operate the locomotive on the day of the accident. According to this article by the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, a transcript of the text messages by engineer Robert Sanchez was released this week. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened a two-day hearing into the collision that outlined the days and minutes that led up to the deadly crash.

The text messages showed that Sanchez allowed a fan to ride in the cab several days before the crash. He was also planning to let him run the train between four stations on the evening of the crash.

Federal investigators said Sanchez sent and received 57 text messages while on duty that day. One was sent 22 seconds before his train slammed head-on into the freight train. The large number of text messages was not uncommon for the engineer in the days leading up to the crash. Sanchez died on-the-job in the crash.

According to the article, there was no sign of mechanical error involving the Metrolink train that was carrying 220 passengers. The evidence is consistent with the Metrolink engineer failing to stop. The Metrolink Train and the Union Pacific Train were traveling at about 40 miles per hour when they crashed into each other. The NTSB panel conducting the hearing focused on cell phone use by train crew members; the operation of trackside signals designed to prevent collisions; and oversight and compliance with safety procedures during the crash.

Continue reading "Metrolink Engineer Text Messaged Before Fatal Crash" »

An employee of an Edison recycling company was killed on-the-job after being caught in a wood chipper. According to the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, the fatality occurred on Tuesday, February 24 at Generated Materials.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident and the police are withholding the man’s identity pending notification of his family.

According to the article, the man became entangled in a conveyor belt attached to the wood chipper in this on-the-job accident.

The family of the victim is entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits through the workers’ employer. The family may also want to file a “third-party” claim. A claim may be filed against negligent parties other than the worker’s employer. It could, for example, be the manufacturer of a defective product that caused an injury or death or it could be another contractor or sub contractor.

Continue reading "On-the-Job Death of Man Caught in Wood Chipper" »

Juan Rivera, a 58-year-old Passaic man, was killed when he was run over by an excavating machine on a construction job in Holmdel, NJ. According to the Associated Press on Philly.com, the construction accident occurred shortly before 3 p.m. Monday. It happened in the back yard of a house that was being rebuilt after a fire.

Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene.

The article stated that the victim was working with another employee of a Franklin Lakes landscaping company that was installing a septic system and grading the yard. Rivera may have walked behind the 11-ton machine as the other man was backing it up.

The family of the victim is entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits through the workers’ employer, Franklin Lakes. The family may also want to file a “third-party” claim for this tragic construction accident. A claim may be filed against negligent parties other than the worker’s employer. It could, for example, be the manufacturer of a defective product that caused an injury or death or it could be another contractor or sub contractor.

Continue reading "Worker On-the-Job Killed By Excavating Machine " »

SEPTA said human error likely caused the train crash that sent nine people to the hospital causing some injuries on-the-job and delayed commuters for much of the morning.

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a southbound work train struck the rear of a stopped southbound R1-Airport train about 4:40 a.m., on January 27. Five crew members were on the work train, and 16 passengers and two crew members were on the commuter train.

Four people were injured on the work train and five on the commuter train. They were treated at Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Richard Dixon was on the R1 train when it was hit. He said he was at the front of the train, with the engineer, when the accident occurred.

Dixon was knocked backwards into the wall and the engineer hit his head. Dixon was among those who went to the hospital, to be examined for back pains, and he said one of the passengers in the same ambulance received stitches for a cut on his chin.

According to the article, initial inspections of the signal, communications, and mechanical systems showed all were working properly.

A spokeman for Septa said human error, possibly by train crew or a dispatcher, is the probable cause. Although light snow was in the area at the time, he said weather was not considered a significant factor in the accident.

Work trains are treated differently under railroad operating rules than regular trains and must have specific authority from a dispatcher to proceed on a main line.

Continue reading "9 Taken To Hospital After SEPTA Train Crash" »

Six workers were sent to a hospital after a Milwaukee-area power plant erupted in a fiery explosion. According to an article from Wisn.com, the blast occurred on February 3 in a dust collector of the We Energies plant in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

The injured were contractor workers for ThyssenKrupp Safway Inc., a subcontractor of U.S. Fire Protection, who were setting up scaffolding in the dust collector, which is a silo where residual coal dust is collected for eventual burning.

One 22-year-old man was in critical condition with burns on half his body in this on-the-job injury. Five other men had minor smoke inhalation and burns. Three were in fair condition and two were treated and released from an area hospital. According to the article, one of the three men has burns on about half his body and will need skin grafts on his hands.

The blast sparked a fire in the silo that took about an hour to get under control.

The plant, located along Lake Michigan, burns 5,000 to 10,000 tons of coal per day.

There are about 230 employees at the plant, as well as several thousand construction employees who are working on an expansion project.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the construction accident explosion.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said the government has ignored repeated calls from safety officials for tougher standards to prevent dust explosions.

Continue reading "Explosion At Wisconsin Power Plant Injures 6" »

A Philadelphia-area commuter rail employee was injured when she fell off a moving train on February 10. According to this article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, she used her flashlight to wave down another train and get help.

The woman, whose name has not been released, fell from a SEPTA train just north of Levittown, PA, in this on-the-job injury.

The article said that police found her hat, a shoe, train schedules, and a ticket punch along the tracks. She was knocked unconscious, but regained consciousness and waved down a later Amtrak train with her flashlight.

The woman was taken by an ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Continue reading "Philadelphia SEPTA Worker Injured In Fall From Train" »

The Department of Corrections recently settled a workers compensation claim with Carol Snyder, a former Graterford Prison guard, for $226,000.

According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Snyder, as well as a medical expert, said she picked up a MRSA infection at the prison. The DOC settled with Snyder, although they are denying liability.

The CDC states that MRSA, also known as flesh-eating bacteria, is a staph germ that is resistant to most antibiotics. It is normally a skin infection and it can enter the body and kill. The disease has left Snyder’s face scarred and she has had recurring infections, including boils on her face, legs, armpits, and behind her ears.

The press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections denied Snyder’s contention that there were numerous cases of MRSA infections among prison inmate, including a death-row inmate. The secretary acknowledged there were “a handful” of staph infections, only half of which were MRSA. Snyder also claimed the cleaning was inadequate at Graterford prison and that inmates could have picked it up through the laundry.

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Ex-guard Blames Prison For MRSA Infection" »

OSHA finds hazardous conditions at Trainer refinery

ConocoPhillips’s PA refinery in Trainer has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 27 violations. According to the article in the Delaware County Daily Times, many of these violations could result in fatalities.

A ConocoPhillips spokesman said the company plans to work with the federal government on these issues.

OSHA’s Philadelphia office began its investigation in June. The company was then issued 26 serious violations with penalties totaling $91,500 and one repeat violation, carrying a $25,000 penalty.

The company failed to update operating procedures as required, according to OSHA.

An OSHA spokeswoman explained that they changed their practice, but they didn’t modify the procedures.

Continue reading "Hazardous Conditions in PA Refinery" »

A worker at a New York Wal-Mart was trampled and killed on “Black Friday” by shoppers desperate for bargains. Police said that about 2,000 people were waiting outside the store doors and knocked down Jdimytai Damour as he opened the doors at 5 a.m., leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.

According to a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer, at least four other people, including a pregnant woman, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and the store closed for several hours before reopening.

Other store employees who tried to help Damour were also trampled. Damour, 34, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 6 a.m., police said. The cause of death had not been determined.

Police said criminal charges were possible, but that it would be difficult to identify individual shoppers. Authorities were reviewing surveillance video.

According to the article, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., called the incident a "tragic situation" and said the employee came from a temporary agency and was doing maintenance work at the store.

By law, it is required that every company in our state carry Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Insurance in the case an employee is injured on the job, becomes ill due to circumstances surrounding their job or even if death results from their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits. Workers' compensation exists both as a way to benefit injured workers and as a way to protect employers. Workers' compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means that no guilt needs to be proved in a case; only that the injury sustained occurred while on the job.

Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers' compensation claim in Pennsylvania.