South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

It's really starting to warm up out there and as the summer heat rolls in, officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are rolling out their national campaign to help raise awareness about heat-related work injuries in Boca Raton and elsewhere.

Workers in the state of Florida are at high risks for these kinds of accidents year round, but these risks really skyrocket through the summer months. This year's safety campaign is working to spread the word about the risks associated with the Florida heat and to raise awareness about precautionary steps that can be taken to help to reduce the risks for these injuries. Prevention is simple. It just takes a little knowledge.

"If employers take reasonable precautions, and look out for their workers, we can beat the heat," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Our Boca Raton injury attorneys understand that were have been about 30 workers killed every year across the U.S. since 2003 because of heat-related work injuries. Thousands more are injured annually. It's those who complete labor-intensive outdoor work that are at the highest risks for these kinds of accidents. These positions include farmers, construction workers, roadside workers, roofers, landscapers and more. Employees and employers are urged to review procedures regarding heat injuries to help to keep everyone safe on the job during the warmest of Florida months. If not treated quickly, heat-related illnesses can quickly turn fatal. These injuries oftentimes start off as heat rash or heat cramps, but can turn into deadly injuries, like heat stroke or heat exhaustion, in a matter of seconds.

Luckily, there a few precautionary steps that employers and employees should follow to help keep everyone safe out there. If you remember three important words, water, rest and shade, we can all do our part to help prevent these kinds of injuries. Review the following safety tips and share them with your coworkers, your friends and your family to help to further ensure everyone's safety in the Florida heat.

Tips to Avoid Heat-Related Injuries:

-Remember these three words: Water. Rest. Shade.

-Drink water often. Hydration is key in helping to reduce the risks for heat-related accidents.

-Take frequent, short breaks.

-Limit your time spent in the sun and in the heat.

-Start tougher and more extensive work in the morning when temps are generally cooler.

-Allow new employees to gradually work their way into working in the heat. Don't throw them out there the first day.

-Train everyone on the work site to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

-Train workers on what to do if an employee is showing signs of a heat-related illness.

-Plan for an emergency and know what to do -- acting quickly can save lives!

Continue reading "Heat-Related Illnesses in Boca Raton and Elsewhere Likely with Summer Months" »

April has been designated as National Safe Digging Month by The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration according to an announcement by the National Safety Council.

Our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers want you to "Call Before You Dig" when tackling any of your outdoor spring projects.

A new federally-mandated national number, 8-1-1, was created to protect anyone be it professionals or do-it-yourselfers from accidentally hitting underground utility lines. A simple phone call is all it takes to avoid the potentially deadly mistake of damaging an underground utility line.

No matter what the size of the project is, workers should never dig into the ground without getting the utility lines marked first. Calling 8-1-1 can prevent you from making a costly mistake. Even if you aren't injured by disrupting an underground utility line, you could be slapped with fines and repair bills.

The 8-1-1 campaign was started by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). It's purpose was to make sure the public was safe, protect the environment and avoid damage to underground utility infrastructure.

Created officially in 2000, CGA represents an arm of the United States Department of Transportation's Common Ground Study. This study determined that one agency should be in charge of monitoring and modifying best practices among the ever growing underground utility industry.

CGA continues to increase the public's knowledge regarding protecting America's substantial amount of underground cables, pipelines, wires and conduits.

Your 8-1-1 call goes into a call center; the operator will ask you some questions about your project. It is best to call a few days before you want to start your project. The call center operator contacts your local utility companies so they can send technicians out to mark the location of your underground utilities. It is literally as simple as that.

Ever wonder what all those color markings mean? Each utility has a universal color assigned to it as follows:

-White is use for the intended excavation site.

-Green means a drainage/sewer system.

-Orange is for any of communications (TV, telephone, cable).

-Blue is for potable water.

-Red means electric.

-Yellow is for gas lines.

-Purple means reclaimed water.

For local "Call Before You Dig" info visit:
Florida 811 site.

Continue reading "Avoid Construction Accidents in Palm Beach: Call Before you Dig" »

This week various transportation agencies will be joining together to raise awareness of accidents in work zones as it is National Work Zone Safety Week. This year's theme is "Safer driving. Safer work zones" and FDOT is urging motorists to be cautious in construction zones and around emergency responders in attempt to reduce risks of a Fort Lauderdale work zone accidents.

Naples construction accident lawyers ask that you practice safe, alert driving in these construction areas to help reduce the risk of unnecessary injuries to you, your vehicle or a road worker. Florida's move over law requires that you move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights.

The Transportation Development Foundation reports that overall roadway fatalities fell by three percent in 2010, to the lowest recorded level since 1949. Still, in 2009 nearly 700 workers and motorists were killed in these highway work zones. More than 40,000 were injured. It is estimated that roughly 85 percent of those killed were drivers and their passengers. Florida experienced nearly 100 fatal accidents in work and construction zones in 2009, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) offers you these simple tips to help us around emergency responders and in construction zones:

-Keep an eye out for workers and their vehicles in work zones.

-Plan ahead. If you know your commute involves a work zone, leave earlier to allow more time or find an alternate route.

-Recognize and abide by the work zone signs.

-Stay aware of other drivers. Practice defensive driving habits.

-Merge as soon as possible. Don't wait until the last minute to get out of the way of these workers and responders. Last-minute decisions will only increase your risk of getting yourself into a compromising driving situation.

-It is especially important to avoid driving while distracted in these zones.

FDOT created a public service announcement to help alert Floridians during National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week.

Continue reading "National Work Zone Safety Week a Reminder of Risks of South Florida Car Accidents in Construction Zones" »

A man was hospitalized after being injured in a Palm Beach construction accident when a piece of equipment fell on him, ABC 25 reported.

The construction accident occurred on Okeechobee Boulevard when a scissor lift toppled over and fell on the man. He was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center.

Construction workers are at high risk for a serious or fatal work accident. Nationwide, nearly 3.7 million non-fatal work injuries were reported in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 5,000 employees were killed in work accidents. While the number of injuries has decreased in response to the economic downturn, the rate of construction accidents has remained constant: 383 construction accidents are reported per 10,000 workers. Nationwide, 31,310 construction workers were injured on the job in 2008.

Construction workers reported the most fatal accidents of any industry in 2008 -- a total of 969 employees were killed on the job.

Overall fatal work accidents declined in Florida, from 363 in 2007 to 290 in 2008.

Fatal Florida work accidents by event:

-Transportation: 107

-Assault or violence: 56

-Contact with object or equipment: 41

-Falls: 39

-Exposure to harmful substances: 38

-Fires or explosions: 6

An employer has an obligation to provide equipment that is in good repair and free from defects. An employee has a right to be provided with proper training and safety equipment. Employees who are injured on the job are entitled to workers' compensation benefits. In other cases, where a defective vehicle or piece of equipment is involved, or in cases where the negligence of other contractors contributes to a serious or fatal accident, a personal injury lawsuit may also be filed to collect damages for injuries, medical bills, lost wages and other expenses.

Continue reading "Employee injured in Palm Beach construction accident after equipment falls on him" »