Articles Posted in Construction Accidents

A worker was injured Tuesday after falling from the Hingham Middle School construction site.

The 45-year-old man from New Bedford, MA, apparently fell from the third story scaffolding of the building around 1 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. According to Hingham Police Sergeant Steven Dearth, the worker was conscious when paramedics arrived, and was taken to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA. 1170121_construction_place.jpg

Construction at the school has since stopped while officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigate the incident. The identity and injuries of the worker are still unknown.

While it is still unknown the reason to why the worker fell in the first place, there are factors that may have played a role into his fall. Scaffolding is a temporary platform that is often used on construction sites to reach areas that are not accessible by ladder. These types of accidents occur for a variety of reasons including incorrect assembly, manufacturing defects, collapse or failure, broken platform, slippery surfaces, and inadequate training or experience with the equipment. And because of the height of these structures, injuries are severe or fatal and may include fractures, broken bones, spinal cord and traumatic head injuries, and even death.

Scaffolding and general requirements on construction sites are the number one safety violation cited by OSHA officials. Construction falls are also the number one cause of death and injury in workplace settings in the United States, accounting for 251 deaths (35% of total workplace deaths) in 2011.

Safety Tips for Workers

All laborers who regularly work on scaffolding must be properly trained with suspension scaffolding and fall protection equipment. In most scaffolding fall cases, the accident was completely preventable.

When working on scaffolding, workers should take the following precautions:

-Learn the proper OSHA standards and regulations for working on scaffolds; such as weight capacity, construction, fall protection, proper scaffolding use.
-Ensure that the scaffolding being used is designed correctly and conforms to OSHA regulations.
-Shield all scaffold suspension ropes and body belt harness system droplines from abrasive or sharp edges to prevent them from being severed.
-Carefully inspect all scaffolds and their components, as well as personal fall protection equipment.
-Ensure that all workers are well equipped with proper fall protection equipment prior to stepping onto a scaffold.
-Properly anchor tiebacks of the scaffolding at different points.
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Each year thousands of workers are injured in workplace incidents around the Commonwealth. Last year alone, over 50,000 workers were injured and more than 30 were killed on Massachusetts job sites. A study published by The Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health found that construction is the most dangerous work industry and far surpasses any other industry in the amount of workplace injuries and fatalities.

Forklift accidents are one type of incident that most often occurs on construction sites, manufacturing and storage warehouses, and accounts for a great number of workplace injuries.
Accidents with forklifts can be caused by numerous factors such as unsafe workplace conditions, inexperience, or unsafe practices while operating the machinery. Accidents caused by those types of factors are almost 100% preventable if the proper safety precautions are taken.1125238_forklift_1.jpg

Some of the most common physical conditions that contribute to forklift accidents include slippery or uneven surfaces, floor and load limits, and obstructions. Slippery and uneven surfaces pose hazards such as skidding and tip over, especially when a forklift is traveling over oil, grease, water, mud, gravel, and other uneven ground conditions. It is most advised to avoid these types of surfaces whenever possible and spread material, such as sand or other absorbent material, over slick areas you cannot avoid to prevent skidding. Workers should always report unsafe conditions, and warning signs should be implemented to warn others of danger, until the area can be properly cleaned.
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A report published by The Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health found there were 32 work related deaths in Massachusetts in 2012. Though the number is lower than that of 2011 (58 deaths), the organizations are calling for change at both deferral and state levels to further prevent workplace injuries and deaths in the Commonwealth.

The Facts

According to the study, motor vehicle accidents and falls were among the leading causes of workplace death, with 5 deaths being related to transportation accidents, and 6 deaths caused by falls. Construction site fatalities accounted for 19% of the total number of work related deaths, and remained the most dangerous work industry. The average age of death was 50 years old, but individuals ranged from ages 17 years to 73 years old. Of the total number deaths, 7 individuals were firefighters, and 4 were fishermen.
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Though the number of fatalities over the past several years is “relatively low by historical standards,” there were significantly high numbers of non-fatal work injuries and occupational disease diagnoses. According to the study, 50,000 people sustained serious injuries at work. More than 300 workers died from occupational disease and 1,800 workers were diagnosed with cancer or other diseases related to workplace exposure.

The major contributing factor in the number of workplace fatalities in Massachusetts, according to the report, is a lack of funding for OSHA regulators and lack of adherence by both employees and employers to exercise necessary safety precautions on job sites. There is, according to the organizations, little enforcement of safety policies by OSHA as well as ramifications for businesses that fail to institute proper safety measures. OSHA still remains seriously underfunded and understaffed, and lacks the ability to inspect each worksite and enforce protocols at every business.
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Two workers were hospitalized after sustaining injuries at a construction site in Kingston, MA this morning. The men, whose injuries were classified as non-life threatening, were taken to Jordan Hospital after a wall that was being moved into place fell.

The men were working at a house being built on Country Club way in Kingston. According to public records, the property is owned by High Pines Corporation.
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Regardless of the severity of the injuries, both workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to pay for any medical costs directly related to the incident. In Massachusetts these benefits should guarantee, in addition to covering initial medical costs, coverage of disability payments, and compensation for any permanent bodily damage (disfigurement, scars, loss of function, etc.)

The injured workers are entitled to worker compensation benefits, which include:

• Immediate payment of all lost wages • Ensuring that all necessary medical care is provided for in a timely fashion • Having all bills processed and paid by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier
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A Framingham, MA Public Works employee was seriously hurt in an accident with a 14-inch circular blade chop saw, said Framingham Police Lt. Ron Brandolini.

The unidentified DPW water department employee, in his 20s, was working on the sewer on Woodlawn Drive when the gas-powered saw he was using kicked back and cut his left shoulder, said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin. He “severely cut an artery in his arm” as he was working in the trenches, said Halpin. He was conscious and communicative at the scene of the accident.

The employee climbed out of the trench on his own, and then his co-workers treated him until emergency responders arrived, using a belt as a tourniquet. “It was a harrowing experience,” Halpin said. “They basically saved his life.” Halpin described the incident to Framingham Selectmen as a “serious workplace” accident.

A medical helicopter brought the employee to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston for treatment. The employee was in stable condition.

Kevin Franck, Director of Communications for the Massachusetts Office of Labor and Workforce Development, said “Framingham Police Department notified the (Massachusetts) Department of Labor Standards that a worker for the Framingham Water Authority received serious injuries while working in a trench with a circular saw,” He added that “A DLS employee was immediately directed to the scene to conduct a survey of the worksite and interview witnesses and other public employees present. Our investigation will focus on whether common industry standards for safety were in place, why the accident happened and how similar accidents can be prevented in the future. DLS is tasked with looking into public sector occupational accidents and helping employers to ensure the safety of public workers.”
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A construction worker fell 30 feet off a building but escaped serious injury when he landed on bubble wrap, said a spokesman for the Boston Fire Department.

The 38-year-old-man, whose name hasn’t been released, lost his balance while working on the building at 1959 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, falling through the wooden planking of the scaffolding, said Boston Fire Department spokesperson, Steve MacDonald.

Firefighters had to cut him free from the bubble wrap. He then went to the hospital to receive treatment for back and shoulder injuries.

The building is currently under construction, and covered in bubble wrap to keep in heat and dust and block winds. “The plastic was covering the entire side of the building and engulfed him,” MacDonald said. “We had to slice the plastic away so the medics could treat him.”

One area resident reported hearing the man fall. “I heard like a crash, sort of, but I didn’t hear any voices after that. I guess it sounded like a rustling of this and a little boom,” said Karli Sultzbaugh.

Sultzbaugh said construction had been going on at the building for a while. “So, I just expected they had been knocking on something. I don’t know if he got tangled up in the plastic and that pretty much saved him from falling onto the concrete, so that’s really good.”

Federal safety officials are now investigating the incident. Representatives of OSHA, the federal agency that oversees workplace safety, arrived at the construction site later that day to inspect the building. At the moment, investigators aren’t sure where the man was standing before he fell, and don’t have much information about the company responsible for the construction.
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A construction worker in South Boston suffered minor injuries after he was buried up to his waist in concrete for over an hour. According a spokesperson for the Boston Fire Department, the employee’s foot became trapped while he was checking a wooden form that was holding some concrete in place. The incident occurred at One Channel Center in South Boston, which is the proposed future site of a 525,000 square-foot, 11-story office building.

The fire department used special tools to free the man, and EMS crews also oversaw the process to ensure his safety. According to Boston District 6 Fire Chief Mark Buchanan, the procedure took over an hour due to the tenuous circumstances. He was also given an IV of pain medication throughout this process but, according to Buchanan, remained “conscious and alert.” Once freed, the man was taken to a local hospital and is said to be in stable condition.
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Being injured at work is an event that can dramatically change someone’s life, as well as the lives of their loved ones. Workers’ compensation provides benefits to workers who are injured on the job, which helps them pay for medical expenses and other financial burdens associated with not being able to make an income.

Learning about the death of a loved one is a traumatic experience, but what is even less comforting is knowing that you will not be able to manage the bills on your own during this difficult time. Fortunately, the government offers benefits to the family members of a deceased employee through Massachusetts’ workers’ compensation and social security programs.

Worker’s Compensation for the Deceased?

The state of Massachusetts recognizes that receiving compensation at a time when you are emotionally and financially distraught is essential to help you through this ordeal. By law, employers are required to provide workers’ compensation survivor benefits to the significant others and children of workers who died due to an injury that occurred within the workplace. Workers’ compensation will also provide $4,000 to cover burial costs for the deceased. Benefits can also include weekly compensation, equal to two-thirds of the deceased employee’s average weekly wage, at a maximum amount of $1,135.82. This maximum amount was determined to be the state’s average weekly wage for October 1, 2011 to September 20, 2012. The spouse of a deceased employee will continue to get this benefit until they remarry, and can be eligible to receive a yearly cost-of-living adjustment two years after they have begun to receive benefits.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also here to support families during this difficult time. As of September 30, 2012, OSHA has set forward initiatives to keep families informed while it investigates fatal workplace incidents. OSHA representatives will reach out to families as early as possible in their investigation to “establish relationships with them and give families a point of contact throughout the investigation.” Should the worst occur with respect to a family member at work, it is important to keep in touch periodically with your designated OSHA representative so that you completely understand the process and ensure that you are receiving what is owed to you.
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Just a little over a week ago, on a Friday morning, August 31, 2012, an unnamed construction worker was pinned down by a piece of a crane that rolled off a trailer at Cummings Center in Beverly, Massachusetts. The worker was taken to a nearby hospital at around 10am and released only a few hours later with, thankfully, relatively minor injuries that in no way threatened his life.

According to the account of Peter O’Connor, the Deputy Fire Chief, workers were loading a piece of equipment onto a trailer when it just rolled off and injured the one employee. The man was conscious and communicative when emergency personnel arrived on the scene, and his being taken to the hospital was described as being precautionary for the most part. O’Connor went on to assert that the man was fortunate that a corner of the equipment remained caught on the trailer, keeping it from fully reaching the ground as it fell, thus mitigating the potential harm it could have inflicted.

The crew of workers hails from North Shore Marine in Salem, Massachusetts. They had recently finished a new building at the Cummings Center and only returned on the day to retrieve and remove equipment. Kevin Pelletier, owner of North Shore Marine, averred that all of his employees “are OSHA-trained and certified, all up-to-date on safety training. We put a lot of emphasis on safety,” he continued. “Everyone we work with is our family and friends.”
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On Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at around 8am, a construction worker was removing part of a building’s façade from 84 Elm Street in Westfield, Massachusetts. While in the midst of performing his duties, the deteriorating brick wall collapsed on him. He and the scissor lift he was standing on both fell backwards. The man’s crash was broken by a car parked in the street.

The owner of the vehicle, James Porier, affirmed that despite the damage to his car, he was happy that it was able to help save a life. Jeffrey Daley, Westfield’s Advancement Officer, echoed Porier’s sentiment, believing that the car probably did prevent further injury to the employee. The trajectory of the lift’s fall was angled in such a way that could have caused much more serious harm. Fortunately, the worker was able to stand and walk around afterwards. According to Police Lieutenant Lawrence Valliere, the man was taken to Noble Hospital with minor injuries.

Daley says the entire block presents hazards to the populace. The city of Westfield owns the building standing next to 84 Elm Street which had become dangerous when bricks began to fall from it during the previous week.
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