Iowa work comp death claims can be paid in one check

If my husband died while working and I'm receiving workers' comp benefits can I get a lump sum? Yes, call to schedule an appt with Atty Lombardi 515-222-1110

Plant Blast At Iowa ADM - Worker Safety Issues

Injured Iowans with legal claims can learn more about their rights at the Lombardi Law Firm website or call 515-222-1110 or email: sdlombardi@aol.com.

Did this 24-year-old Iowa electrician die needlessly?

What caused the death of a 24 year old Des Moines electrician? That was the question surrounding the death of Chris Turney but now the autopsy has revealed that it was in fact caused by electrocution. Mr. Turney was standing on a metal scaffold working with electrical wires at the Hy-Vee under construction at College Square Mall in Cedar Rapids when it happened. OSHA is currently investigating and one has to ask how does something like this happen? The company Mr. Turney worked for; Kline Electric of Ankeny, was hired to install the new wiring for the store. Was this caused by a mistake of a co-worker, did Mr. Turney have proper training to be working in the area he was, or was this just a freak accident? Whatever the reason this is another regrettable example of the preventable loss of a young man in the workplace.

A review of the Iowa Industrial Commission decisions did not turn up an arbitration case against Kline Electric.

The Iowa Secretary of State’s website shows a Kline Electric, Inc. as corporation number 291108 from 2785 N ANKENY BLVD. , Ankeny, Iowa active since March 3, 2004. Filings with the Secretary of State are as follows.

W00374589	2	3/3/2004	3/3/2004	ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
A06291108	1	4/20/2006	4/20/2006	BIENNIAL REPORT FILED
W00575333	1	6/23/2008	6/23/2008	AGENT'S CHANGE OF OFFICE
A08291108	1	7/1/2008	7/1/2008	BIENNIAL REPORT FILED

A general search shows Kline Electric, Inc. an electrical contractor, at a different address: 502 N Ankeny Blvd Ste 20, Ankeny, Iowa.

Hy-Vee is a large grocery store chain that together builds its own stores. Like many corporations they have found access to capital through selling stores to investors at a price determined on a low capitalization rate of the annual lease payments. One way to increase the net profit on the sale end is to lower your construction costs. There are various ways to accomplish lower costs, labor being one. Are these electrical workers union trained workers with stringent electrical safety training or workers who have learned the trade here and there? We have no way of knowing Mr. Turney’s background, but the news items from Radio Iowa and KITM fail to mention any union hall affiliation. Safety training is an important tool for your tool box. It’s not something you reach in and grab to show someone; it’s just something that may save your life.

So what might have caused this electrician to get electrocuted? My guess is that it’s a failure for the construction site workers to follow lock-out tag-out procedures. I could be wrong, but many times that is the breakdown or failure that kills a working electrician on the job site. I’ve got a section on the Lombardi Law Firm website dedicated to proper lock-out tag-out protocol. Essentially this is what LOTO is about. We’ve included blogs, video and helpful resources for you to learn more. Remember, safety first. I’ve personally handled these types of cases and I’m sorry to say the workers usually died and I represented the widows and children. I’ve included examples of other workers who have died when others on the construction site fail to follow the LOTO procedure.

On the Injuryboard I’ve covered this subject and also others have as well. See the following posts.

Construction Safety and Trial Lawyer Skills: LOTO or Lockout ...

Yesterday we covered Lockout/Tagout safety rules in a very general way. Today we look at it as lawyers are required. What is the law of Lockout/Tagout? ... 101k

Construction Safety: Video Training of LOTO or Lockout/Tagout ...

... Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous. Construction Safety: Video Training of LOTO or Lockout/Tagout Procedures for Electricians. Email Member. ... 99k

Construction Safety: The risk of being electrocuted | InjuryBoard ...

... The rules are known as the “lockout/tagout” procedure rules. ... 1. Define what is meant by Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO or Lockout/Tagout) and when it is used. ... 101k

"Worker Error" Hides Poor Management | InjuryBoard Tampa Bay

... It's called the "Lockout-Tagout" standard, technically known as the "Control of Hazardous Energy" standard, and is used to protect workers who may be repairing ... 101k

InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | January 2009

Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer | January 2009 Archives | InjuryBoard Des Moines. 101k

Being an electrician is dangerous. A good working knowledge of safety is essential.

When working on the electrical system of any job site all electricians and other workers involved must disconnect the power at the main box, then place a lock with their name tag on the electrical junction box door so no one is able to turn the power back on while they are touching the otherwise live wires. If another worker at the same time wishes to work on the electrical system, he too places his lock and tag on the first lock. That signals the first guy that someone else is working on the electrical system and needs to contact before the electrical juice is turned back on.

So what happens that makes this system not work? Well, people don’t follow the LOTO procedure. The general contractor in charge of the site doesn’t enforce the rules, things get slack and pretty soon you have a safety culture that is corrupted and it can lead to the death of a worker.

Did it happen in this instance? We don’t know. I’m sure IOSH along with OSHA are investigating and will get to the bottom of it.

For the young electricians out there pick up an application with Iowa’s electrician’s apprenticeship program and learn the ins and outs of safety. The electrician’s union has offices in Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City and Waterloo. Remember a good safety education through the IBEW Local 347 in Central Iowa may save your life.

Hy-Vee began in the 1930’s by two men, Charles Hyde (1883-1970) and David Vredenburg.  With a goal to provide “good merchandise, appreciative service and low prices,” Charles Hyde (1883-1970) and David Vredenburg (1884-1949) opened a small store in Beaconsfield, Iowa, in 1930. The store was leased only a few weeks before the stock market crash of October, 1929. The two men began calling their operation Hyde & Vredenburg in 1933.

Today Hy-Vee has grown to more than just a grocery story. They also team up with Weitz Construction to build these stores. That company is known as Hy-Vee Weitz Construction.

“Since 1995 Hy-Vee Weitz Construction has built its reputation on award-winning, quality construction for Hy-Vee, Inc. We are now prepared to offer our extensive services to a broader market.”

The dependent spouse and children are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits as well as other damages if liability can be shown arising from another contractor’s employee’s negligent actions. Protect yourself, know your rights and be diligent about enforcing them.

La misión de OSHA

Más de 100 millones de trabajadores cuentan con OSHA

La misión de OSHA es la de asegurar la seguridad y salud de los trabajadores in América estableciendo y haciendo cumplir normas, ofrecimiento de adiestramientos y educación, estableciendo asociaciones y motivando a un mejoramiento continuo en la seguridad y salud en el lugar de trabajo.

Nuestros servicios

OSHA y sus socios estatales disponen de aproximadamente 2100 inspectores, así como de investigadores de quejas por discriminación, ingenieros, médicos, educadores, redactores de normas y de otro personal técnico y de apoyo en más de 200 oficinas en todo el país. Estos profesionales establecen normas de protección, aplican dichas normas y se relacionan con empleadores y empleados mediante programas de asesoramiento y de asistencia técnica.

El público que servimos

Casi todo hombre o mujer en la nación se halla al amparo de la jurisdicción de OSHA (aunque existen ciertas excepciones entre mineros, trabajadores del transporte, muchos empleados del sector público y trabajadores independientes). Otros usuarios y recipientes de los servicios de OSHA incluyen: profesionales de la seguridad y salud ocupacional, la comunidad académica, abogados, periodistas y personal de otras organizaciones gubernamentales.

Plan para el mejoramiento de servicio

OSHA ha determinado utilizar eficazmente sus recursos limitados con el fin de promover el compromiso entre la administracion de la empresa y la participacion de empleados en programas de salud y seguridad en el trabajo.

Estudio de nuestro público

El personal de OSHA se dedica a mejorar la calidad de nuestros esfuerzos y sabe que nuestro éxito depende de una agencia cuyo impulso mayor es el compromiso al servicio público. OSHA debe primeramente escuchar y responder a sus clientes. Por lo tanto, hemos realizado una encuesta cuyo fin es saber más sobre la opinión que tienen los empleadores y los empleados de los servicios de OSHA.

Debido a que las inspecciones de los lugares de trabajo representan una de las actividades principales de OSHA y ya que los esfuerzos voluntarios para mejorar las condiciones laborales finalmente dependen de una aplicación firma de la ley, nuestra encuesta enfocó principalmente el proceso de inspección. Hemos realizado una encuesta al alzar entre empleados y empleadores que fueron inspeccionados por OSHA recientemente pidiendo su opinión de la inspección en particular y de las normas y otras actividades educacionales y de ayuda en general.

Normas del servicio

Hemos basado las nuevas normas de OSHA para el servicio público se basan en lo que aprendimos de las encuestas, de reuniones con grupos de empleados y de empleadores y de grupos de discusión con trabajadores de varias plantas e industrias en todo el país.

Nuestro programa para el mejoramiento del servicio público se realizará en forma continua. Seguiremos recopilando información sobre la calidad de nuestro desempeño en la entrega de servicios en areas que no forman parte de la encuesta de este año, especialmente en el sector de la construcción. Además, el año próximo tenemos previsto aprender más sobre la reacción del público frente a nuestros programas de asistencia y asesoramiento.