Industrial Accidents

An industrial accident is any type of accident that occurs at work. An industrial accident injury is any bodily harm or disease caused by working. People injured in industrial accidents may be able to file an industrial accident claim to recover loss of income, pain and suffering and other economic and punitive damages.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 (the most recent year for which data is available), there were 5,071 fatal occupational injuries in the US. In 2007, there were 5,657 fatal work injuries. Of the 5,071 fatal occupational injuries in 2008, 680 involved fatal falls. The number of fatal falls in 2007 was 847. Falls in both years involved falls to a lower level, falls from roofs, falls from ladders and falls to the same level (such as against an object or to a floor or walkway).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that 90 percent of fatal work injuries involves employees in the private industry. The other 10 percent involved government workers. Workers in construction had the highest number of fatalities, while fishing and logging were among the industries with high fatality rates.

Meanwhile, the number of non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported was 3.7 million in 2008, down from approximately 4 million in 2007. More than half of those cases involved days away from work, job transfer or job restriction.
  Work-related cancer refers to cancer that develops as a result of exposure to carcinogens while at work. Work-related cancers include lung cancer, asbestos mesothelioma, lung cancer, brain cancer, bladder cancer, and melanoma.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), approximately 4 percent of cancer deaths in the US were attributed to occupational cancer; however, that figure is thought to be an underestimation of the actual rate of occupational cancer. Part of the reason for the underestimation is that some cancers do not develop until 15 to 40 years after exposure to the carcinogen.
  There are many ways workers can be injured on the job. These include:

• Amputations
• Cave in
• Chemical burns
• Chemical spill
• Crush injuries
• Cuts
• Electrocution
• Explosion
• Fall from different levels
• Fall from height/elevation
• Farm injuries
• Fire
• Heat stress

Illnesses linked to occupational hazards include:

• Asbestosis
• Mesothelioma
• Occupational cancer
• Flavorings-related lung disease
• Respiratory illness
• Repetitive strain injury
• Silicosis

Injuries that result from industrial accidents include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Head injury
• Neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Burn injuries

There are many reasons industrial accidents occur. These include failure to provide safety equipment or proper equipment training, failure to maintain equipment, failure to provide a safe work environment, failure to warn employees about existing or potential hazards, encouraging employees to violate safety rules to get a job done more quickly or more cheaply and failure to notify employees about safety regulations.

Employers have a duty to provide adequate safety gear to employees, ensure they are properly trained for their jobs and maintain a safe working environment. If they fail to do so and their employees are injured or killed on the job, the employers may be guilty of negligence. Lawsuits against employers who contribute to their employee's injuries include wrongful death and personal injury claims.

Employees injured on the job may be eligible to file a workers compensation claim. If they are injured while working on the seas, they may file a Jones Act claim. If they are injured while working for a railroad, they may file a FELA claim.

Industrial Accident Legal Help

If you feel you qualify for damages or remedies that might be awarded in a possible industrial accident class action or lawsuit, please click the link below to submit your complaint.

 

Last updated on Dec-2-21