Georgia Industrial Accident Attorneys

You Have the Right to a Safe Work Environment

Industrial jobs are important to the fabric of the U.S. economy. In fact, manufacturing jobs make one of the largest footprints in America’s economy, employing some 12.8 million workers and making up approximately 8.5 percent of total U.S. employment in 2018.

While industrial jobs are important, they’re also amongst some of the most dangerous occupations in the country. Workers often control heavy machinery, handle or are exposed to toxic chemicals, work in crowded factories, or work in hazardous conditions.

While OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Act) helps to regulate working conditions in various industries, incidents still happen.

Examples of Industrial Jobs

Industrial occupations are typically characterized by being manual-labor intensive. Some examples of industrial jobs include:

• Mechanics
• Machinists
• Construction workers
• Factory workers
• Electricians
• Farmers

Some examples of industrial jobs include food production and manufacturing, printing, medical device manufacturing, mechanical engineering and manufacturing; and distribution. The construction industry is also one of the fastest-growing sectors of industrial work in the U.S., for both residential and commercial construction.

Types of Industrial Accidents

Workers who suffer an industrial event that causes an injury often face severe, lifelong debilitations. Many times, these events could have been avoided if proper training and safety measures were in place. Industrial employers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their workers. Often, when companies cut corners or put profits over worker safety, it’s the employees who suffer.

Some Examples of Common Industrial Accidents Include:

• Equipment rollovers
• Falls
• Being struck by heavy equipment
• Being struck by vehicles
• Being caught in machinery or equipment
• Being crushed or struck in a collapsing structure
• Fires/explosions
• Toxic fumes/leaks

What Are Common Causes of Industrial Accidents?

• Poor staffing
• Inadequate training
• Fatigue
• Dehydration
• Poor lighting
• Lack of proper tools or equipment
• Lack of proper protective gear
• Defective tools or machinery
• Lifting
• Hazardous materials
• Trips and falls
• Stress

Common Injuries due to Industrial Accidents May Include:

• Broken limbs
• Head or brain injuries
• Severed or mashed limbs
• Burns/chemical burns
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Pulled muscles
• Eye injuries
• Toxic fume inhalation

What Causes Industrial Injuries?

It’s important to remember that incidents don’t just happen, they are caused. One of the main causes of industrial incidents stems from improper safety measures. In fact, according to Aftermath, specialists in trauma cleaning and biohazard removal, 80 out of 100 incidents each year are caused by lack of precautionary measures. This can include taking shortcuts, poor management, improper training, or neglecting safety procedures.

Other issues that lead to injuries may include lack of housekeeping or cleaning measures, too many distractions, incomplete tasks, or overworked employees due to understaffing.

Industrial Injury Statistics

• According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), In 2018, 5,250 workers died on the job. On average, that’s more than 100 deaths a week or 14 deaths each day.
• Out of 4,779 worker fatalities in private industries in 2018, 1,008 or 21.1% were in construction — that is, one in five worker deaths in 2018 were in construction.
• The leading causes of private sector construction industry deaths in 2018 (excluding highway collisions) were falls, followed by being struck by an object, electrocution, and caught-in/between.
• These “Fatal Four” (falls, struck by object, electrocution, caught-in/between) were responsible for more than half (58.6%) of construction worker deaths in 2018, BLS reports. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 591 workers’ lives in America every year.

OSHA reports that some of the most frequent standard violations include:

• Fall protection violations
• Improper hazard communications
• Poor scaffolding
• Lack of respiratory protection
• Defective or poorly placed ladders
• A lack of proper safety equipment such as eye and face protection

Do I Need a Lawyer?

A severe injury can leave you with thousands of dollars in medical debt and unable to work. If you or your loved one has been harmed in an industrial incident, you can equip yourself with the representation and resources needed to handle all legal issues by working with one of our award-winning personal injury attorneys.

We help victims receive the compensation they deserve. It doesn’t matter if the injury was caused by an equipment driver who wasn’t paying attention or by a machine or product that wasn’t working correctly. We will review your case to consider the different factors involved in getting you the compensation you deserve.

Our skilled personal injury attorneys help clients recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering.

We Can Help!

When you are suffering from financial or personal damages related to an injury you sustained in an industrial accident, you have the right to pursue monetary compensation for your damages with the aid of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

To learn more about your rights and legal options for pursuing this compensation, contact our personal injury lawyers at Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. to set up your free initial legal consultation.

We have a history of results and have recovered more than $800 million on behalf of deserving clients. Call us today at 706-354-4000 or fill out our free contact form to tell us more about your case.