Keeping their workplace safe is a very real issue for all California employers in today’s economy. Most do everything in their power to comply with the laws and regulations pertaining to safety standards. However, no matter how safe a work environment may be, there is still a significant chance that workers on construction sites will, at one time or another, suffer a serious injury that will result in them filing workers’ compensation claims.
A recent out-of-state work accident at a construction site resulted in a worker seriously injuring his leg in a cement mixer. The accident occurred on a recent Thursday morning in August. Authorities said it took rescue workers nearly two hours to rescue the worker, a 22-year-old man.
The man had been working at an apartment building construction site in Newton, Massachusetts, when he slipped off some cement bags and somehow fell into the machinery. He leg was caught in the machine. The worker was conscious while rescue crews carefully worked on removing the machinery surrounding his leg, after which he was taken to a hospital. The man broke several bones in the process and may be in danger of losing a foot. Investigators are currently determining whether this accident was preventable, which certainly appears to have been the case.
When a California worker suffers an injury while on the job, he or she typically qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits. This can help diminish the medical costs often associated with his or her injuries and can assist with lost wages while the worker is recovering. Workers’ compensation can sometimes be a difficult program to navigate, and an attorney experienced in handling these types of claims may prove useful.
Source: wcvb.com, “Construction worker gets stuck inside twisting cement mixer“, Aug. 5, 2016