workplace injuries

UPS Workers File Wrongful Death Suit Following Workplace Shooting

September 15, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

In June 2017, an armed United Parcel Service (UPS) employee entered into a package delivery warehouse in San Francisco and began shooting. Three UPS workers were killed and two were wounded. An additional three employees were hurt while trying to escape. This tragic and violent incident has led the families of the deceased victims and the injured employees to file a lawsuit against UPS, Allied Universal Security Services, and the owner of the warehouse.

UPS Employees File Suit Following Deadly Workplace Shooting

The attorneys for the employees and their families argue that the accident was entirely preventable. Despite metal detectors and security guards at the facility, it appears as if the shooter walked right in. The employees and their families claim that none of the security measures in place were sufficient to prevent such an incident. They also state there had been previous complaints about the lack of appropriate security as unauthorized people had gotten into the building.

AP Finds Older Workers Face Greater Risk of Workplace Fatality

September 8, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

The Associated Press analyzed federal statistics and found older workers are being killed on the job at higher rates than younger workers. This is bad news for older individuals who are forced due to their finances to continue to work beyond retirement age and for people who simply enjoy working while they are physically and mentally able. This is also a worrisome finding as by 2024, older workers will make up a quarter of the workforce.

Workers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are not going anywhere, and employers need to be sure they are keeping their senior employees safe. If employers fail to follow or increase safety measures, older worker’s deaths could result in a greater number of workers’ compensation and wrongful death claims.

APs Study of Older Workers’ Deaths

Hazardous Chemical Spills in Port of Long Beach

August 7, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On August 6, a hazardous concentrated industrial solvent began leaking from a container vessel near Port of Long Beach. The solvent, propyl acetate, is used as a food flavoring and in fragrances, but is also a flammable liquid, according to the Long Beach Fire Department. In large or concentrated amounts, propyl acetate can harm the eyes, skin, and lungs.

The leak injured eleven shipyard workers and the response caused one firefighter to get hurt. All but one of the workers were treated at the scene for mild-to-moderate injuries while the other worker and firefighter were taken to a local hospital.

Hazardous Chemicals can Lead to Serious Injuries

Construction Site Catches Fire a Second Time

May 22, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

A construction site on San Pablo Avenue between Oakland and Emeryville caught fire on Saturday, May 13. The fire broke out in the mixed-use apartment complex around 5 a.m. and took about 100 hours to control. Both the Oakland Fire Department and the Alameda County Fire Department sent engines and firefighters. The debris was still smoldering and firefighters remained on site through Sunday. The fire led to the evacuation of at least 35 residents from 15 neighboring units as officials were worried the partially burned crane might collapse. Some nearby homes were severely damaged.

This is the second time the construction site has gone up in flames. It caught fire last July, and neighbors and the building developers suspect arson. The previous fire started at around 2:45 a.m. and also spread to nearby homes and businesses.

The development was intended to be 105 one- to four-bedroom units and 21,000 square feet of retail space known as the Intersection. However, it remains to be seen when the Intersection will come to fruition. The building was supposed to be finished this October. However, this has set it back at least nine months.

Dangerous Construction Site Leads to Building Evacuations

February 22, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On February 22, a crane and concrete slab in a high-rise construction site in South of Market became unstable and were at a risk of falling, CBS SF Bay Area reported. Due to the significant dangers posed by the two-ton piece of concrete hanging 35 stories above the ground, the building under construction and 15 others around it were evacuated. The surrounding streets and alleys were also closed.

The issue was caused when a strut within the crane that was putting the concrete wall into position failed, which is also being referred to in the news as a partial hydraulic failure. This caused the crane, which is currently located in the center of the building where a stair well will be, to tilt and allow the concrete wall to lean outward. Authorities stated the crane was not going to fall and the evacuations were purely out of caution. If the concrete had fallen after individuals were evacuated, a worst-case-scenario only involved structural damage to a couple of buildings and the street.

Incident Leads to Health and Safety Violation

Man Killed in Forklift Accident

December 28, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Industrial accidents can be serious and can cause life-threatening injuries. Construction sites and industrial premises are required to follow safety rules. Workers and others expect that they will be out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Injuries can occur for a number of reasons. Last month, a man was killed in a forklift accident in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. Officials classified the death as an industrial accident.

Industrial Accidents

Industrial accidents are caused by human error, according to OSHA (Occupational Health & Safety). Thousands of people are injured or killed as a result of accidents in the workplace. Workplace safety is an important concern for all companies. Some industries are more dangerous than others. For example, coal mining is one of the most hazardous of all occupations in the United States. When an industrial accident occurs, it often results in serious injuries.

San Francisco Injury Lawyer Comments on the Zika Virus and Workplace Injuries

October 7, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

The Zika virus is an unusual, harmful disease that first broke out in South America and has now spread into the United States. There have been reports of the Zika virus in every state (except for Alaska). Some of these states that have seen more than 100 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, including Florida, New York, Texas, and (yes) California. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 800 pregnant women in the United States are believed to have the Zika virus. Most people who have heard of the Zika virus know that it can be transmitted through mosquitos and has been linked to microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in children.

Who is Responsible if I am Infected with Zika?

When we become ill, such as when we catch a cold or are stricken by the flu, we do not usually consider who is legally responsible for making us ill. In many cases, we conclude that we caught whatever illness we have because of being in proximity to an ill child or a sick coworker. Under California’s worker’s compensation law, though, becoming ill while “on the job” entitles you to worker’s compensation benefits. Supposing you were an arborist or groundskeeper and, while working, you were bitten by a mosquito and thereafter contracted the Zika virus, your medical expenses and lost wages would likely be covered under the state’s worker’s compensation laws.