Workplace Injuries

• River North Scaffolding Collapse

  Kristina Labanauskas | October 28, 2008 4:10 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A scaffolding collapse in River North yesterday resulted in serious injuries to two construction workers. The collapse happened in the 300 block of West Ohio Street. According to authorities,...

• Equipment failure kills laborer

  Barry Doyle | July 24, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A California laborer was struck in the chest when the shovel of a steam shovel came loose and landed on top of him. At the time of the accident, he was working in a trench on a construction project.The laborer suffered fatal injuries as a result of being hit by the shovel.Under Illinois law, this man's family would be entitiled to worker's compensation benefits for his death. However, those...

• Fatal scaffolding collapse

  Barry Doyle | June 14, 2007 7:30 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  Two Indiana construction workers fell 40 feet to the ground when the scaffold they were working on collapsed. The scaffold had a loose pin holding in one of the members of the scaffold and when the workers went to repair the scaffold, their weight caused the scaffold to collapse.One worker survived the fall suffering chest and head injuries; the other workers suffered fatal injuries.Federal...

• Contractor cited after employee falls through floor

  Barry Doyle | May 20, 2007 4:21 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A contractor was hit with over $69,000 in fines by OSHA after an employee was injured when he plummeted three floors when the floor of the building he was working in collapased. The employee was involved in the demolition of a building at the time of the accident.Violations of OSHA regulations such as this put employees lives at unnecessary risk of harm.When done safely, demolition of buildings...

• Trench collapse in Louisiana

  Barry Doyle | May 15, 2007 8:30 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  Two workers were lucky to survive when the trench that they were working in collapsed. The trench was being dug near a highway and did not have a proper retaining wall. Authorities believe that vibrations from the nearby highway triggered the collapse.One of the workers suffered a fractured ankle while trying to escape the trench.Working in an excavation is one of the most hazardous duties in...

• Scaffold collapse results in fall

  Barry Doyle | May 05, 2007 8:30 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A worker on a Maryland construction site was injured when the planking to the scaffolding he was working on broke. He fell from the scaffold 37 feet to the ground.The worker suffered spinal fractures which may result in paralysis.Because scaffolds raise workers so high up in the air, OSHA regulations require that all of the component parts be in safe and proper condition. This requires...

• Fatal nail-gun accident

  Barry Doyle | April 27, 2007 8:45 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  An Idaho construction worker was found dead on a residential construction project. At the time of his death, he was using a nail gun to frame houses.The nail gun apparently accidentally discharged and he was killed by a penetrating injury to his brain stem.On a construction site, not only do the work practices have to be safe, but the equipment must be safe as well. Nail guns are a special...

• Worker killed by backhoe

  Barry Doyle | April 18, 2007 7:31 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A Florida worker died when he was struck by a backhoe and knocked into a trench.He suffered head injuries which proved fatal.The equipment on construction sites must be safe for not only the operator but those who can be expected to be working nearby.For moving equipment such as backhoes, this may include equipping the backhoe with a beeping alarm to alert those nearby when the backhoe is in...

• Worker injured by falling materials

  Barry Doyle | April 15, 2007 6:24 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  At a Florida construction site, a worker was injured when boards fell from a roof truss. The workers were building a warehouse at the time of the accident.After a 200-foot fall, the boards hit a worker on ground level. He suffered head and spine injuries.This accident involves issues of coordination of the work. When work is going on overhead, the areas beneath must be cleared of workers in...

• Truck hits flagger

  Barry Doyle | April 06, 2007 8:45 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  In Florida, a traffic flagger is recovering after he was hit by a truck while working on a road construction project. The truck driver failed to keep clear of the flagger. He hit the flagger with his outside mirror and then drove over the top of his foot.The flagger suffered a mangled foot as a result of being run over.Obviously every driver needs to be careful of workers in construction zones...