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California workers injured on the job by huge beams

On Behalf of | Jun 24, 2014 | Workplace Accidents |

Working on any kind of construction site can be inherently dangerous, despite safety protocol or equipment found at job sites. When it comes to overpasses and night work, there can be an increased risk of being injured on the job due to the nature of the job and the type of equipment around. A recent California job accident resulted in two workers being injured after large steel beams fell from an overpass.

The workers involved in the incident were in the process of adding beams to a new overpass. There were two large beams in place when a third beam bumped them. This caused the beams to fall to the highway below the new overpass.

One of the workers also fell to the highway below. Another worker was knocked off, but managed to climb back up from a dangling position on the overpass. The worker who fell was taken to a medical facility, and his injuries were not detailed. The beams involved weighed 50,000 pounds each. This accident led to the highway being closed for some time.

While it is unclear what kind of injuries the man suffered, anyone who is injured on the job and in need of medical help should know their rights under the law. The injured worker may need ongoing treatment or even rehabilitative services. In California and elsewhere, workers’ compensation laws are in place to protect injured workers from being beset by medical bills or suffering financially if they are unable to return to work for a period of time.

Source: scpr.org, “Update: Lanes reopen after beams, worker plummet onto 405 Freeway“, , June 18, 2014

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