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Workers' Compensation
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Titan Workers Electrocuted, Was Lock-out-tag-out being used?
Aug 17, 2010Des Moines, Iowa - Two Titan Tire workers on Des Moines' east side were shocked with 480 volts of electricity, but survived. Names of the two workers weren't available. The description is they were walking on a catwalk about 20 feet above the floor when they were shocked or electrocuted. There is no indication of how it occurred and whether lock-out-tag-out procedures were being used at the time. Lockout/tagout is an important safety issue that I've covered in many posts. If you work around electrical equipment you'd be wise to spend some time getting familiar with what it is and how it should be used. Here are a few links to articles I've previously posted.
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Video Library | Lombardi Law Firm
- 3 visits - 8/8/09 The rules are known as the "lockout/tagout" procedure rules. .... Description: In this video lockout/tagout or LOTO procedures are explained. ...
www.lombardilaw.com/video/ - Cached -
Helpful Internet Safety and Personal Injury Resources | Lombardi ...
- 5 visits - May 14 ... signage, books, traffic safety products, wearables, lockout/tagout goods, safety instrumentation, branded items and construction site printing services. ...
www.lombardilaw.com/resources.cfm - Cached -
Safety Link Inc - Lockout/Tagout | Lombardi Law Firm
With lockout/tagout you get to stay alive. Electrical workers on a construction site must follow an established set of rules for protecting each other.
www.lombardilaw.com/video/safety-link-inc-lockouttagout.cfm - Cached -
John Deere foundry worker electrocuted - Is this a lock-out-tag ...
Aug 9, 2009 ... See also my post on the Lombardi Law Firm website blog. My news item contains a different video on lock-out tag-out safety rules. ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../john-deere-foundry-worker-electrocuted-is-this-a-lockouttagout-safety-issue.cfm - Cached - Similar -
Did this 24-year-old Iowa electrician die needlessly? | Lombardi ...
Aug 8, 2009 ... 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 ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../did-this-24yearold-iowa-electrician-die-needlessly.cfm - Cached - Similar -
Knowing the proper way to lockout/tagout on the work site fuse box ...
Electrical workers on a construction site must follow an established set of rules for protecting each other. They are not supposed to be working on ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../knowing-the-proper-way-to-lockouttagout-on-the-work-site-fuse-box-may-save-your-life.cfm - Cached -
The Lombardi Law Firm Blog | Lombardi Law Firm
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 ...
www.lombardilaw.com/blog/?keywordid=27678 - Cached -
Construction Site Accidents | Central Iowa Accident Attorney ...
Safety Link Inc - Lockout/Tagout · Construction Worker Safety: Trench collapse and rescue operations to avoid death of the injured worker ...
www.lombardilaw.com/practice_areas/construction-site-acc1.cfm - Cached -
The Lombardi Law Firm Blog | Lombardi Law Firm
Aug 8, 2009 ... Construction Safety and Trial Lawyer Skills: LOTO or Lockout . ... Construction Safety: Video Training of LOTO or Lockout/Tagout . ...
www.lombardilaw.com/blog/?keywordid=50607 - Cached -
The Lombardi Law Firm Blog | Lombardi Law Firm
May 25, 2010 ... The rules are known as the "lockout/tagout" procedure rules. (LOTO) The purpose of the rule is to protect workers from energized wires, ...
www.lombardilaw.com/blog/?keywordid=16021 - Cached - 1 - 10
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News OnInjuryLaw by Nick Avgerinos
Aug 07, 2010Capron & Avgerinos is a law firm in Illinois that does predominantly workers' compensation cases for eastern Iowa and Illinois clients. Nick and I attended Drake Law School together "back in the day". Each of us has for the past 30 years (I hate saying that!) stood by injured workers and their families helping them to put food on the table after an injury.
In OnInjuryLaw there is a very good discussion about choice of doctor under Iowa law. One more thing, if you can't say his name that's okay, he will just smile like he always does. Nice guy, easy to talk with and very accomodating to his clients. So if you are from Illinois or from eastern Iowa and want to know more about the law of workers' compensation visit his blog.
See Employer vs Employee - The Choice of medical care in Iowa workers' compensation
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North Sioux City Sewer Line Worker Death is covered by work comp
Aug 04, 2010The Sioux City Journal has been covering this very subject involving several workers for Speedy Rooter clearing out a sewer line in North Sioux City. The worker is Robert Thompson. The location is in a one-block stretch of Military Road between North Main Street and Watier Avenue. From reading the article I can tell the IOSH inspector is extremely frustrated with how this worker died; since this is nothing new and a company shouldn't be sending its employees into a confined space who aren't trained, don't know if the line is clear of noxious gases and who haven't a rescue plan in place.
We've been covering this story about the North Sioux City sewer line death and suffocation for the past two days so you can read more about it under our practice areas of workers' compensation and construction site accidents. I would also suggest you read the series of articles by the Sioux City Journal.
Did the Sioux City Sewer Pipe Workers Received Confined Space Training?
Welding in a Confined Space can be deadly.
Journal's breaking news policy
Web Results
OSHA investigates N. Sioux sewer death
Jul 16, 2010 ... SiouxCityJournal.com, Sioux City Iowa News and Advertising ... He said incidents of workers being overtaken by sewer fumes happen more often than they should. ... Judge finds Hill guilty in baby daughter's death ... siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_8165337b-9f35... - Similar
Worker injured in sewer accident remains hospitalized
Jul 17, 2010 ... Worker injured in sewer accident remains hospitalized ... Speedy Rooter employee from a North Sioux City sewer remains in critical ... The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration is investigating his death. ... www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_bd... - Similar
[ More results from www.siouxcityjournal.com ]
OSHA investigating deaths of Iowa men in SD sewer - Action 3 ...
Jul 24, 2010 ... OSHA investigating deaths of Iowa men in SD sewer ... Two employees of Sioux City, Iowa-based Speedy Rooter were overcome by fumes while working on the sewer on July 10. ... Injured worker rescued from roof of UNI-Dome ... www.kmtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12864919 - Similar
OSHA investigates N. Sioux sewer death. The Occupational Safety & Health ... by fumes along with another worker in a North Sioux City sewer Saturday. ... workerhealth.wordpress.com/ - Similar
Manicures in Sioux City,Iowa|Sioux City,IA
Sioux City, ia Manicures listed in Sioux City directory yellowpages format. ... The workers who give local manicures know how to treat their customers and make .... the death of 2 Iowa men attempting to unclog a North Sioux City sewer. ... sioux_city-ia.localpages.com/Manicures.html - Similar
kmeg news | Top Notch Inspection Service
Jul 30, 2010 ... Sioux City Plans Cancellation of Wastewater Treatment Company Contract ... The Industrial Training Building will teach skilled workers to fill an ... of Sioux Falls, face kidnapping and robbery charges in the death of ... www.siouxcityhomeinspector.com/aggregator/sources/6 - Similar
Sep 17, 2007 ... "Officials Probe Worker's Death in Excavation Cave-in" ... The excavation was part of a sewer sanitation rehabilitation project just east ... Summary: A Sioux City plumbing company has been issued citations on four items ... www.trenchsafety.org/trench/sample/archives.html - Similar
Awards and Recognitions - City of Sioux City Iowa
Sioux City named a Cultural and Entertainment District by the State of Iowa ... its community free of deaths from fire for the following years, 2001 thru 2007. ... award for the innovation implementation of the City's wastewater treatment program. ... Kyle Smith, City Gardner, and Lori Stedman, Maintenance Worker, ... www.sioux-city.org/dept/pageview.asp?guid=B97F3E3F-C9... - Similar
Local News - KMEG 14 - News, Weather, Sports for Sioux City ...
Sioux City Plans Cancellation of Wastewater Treatment Company Contract ... The Industrial Training Building will teach skilled workers to fill an industry ..... (SIOUX CITY, IA) The fate of a Sioux City man charged in the death of his ... www.kmeg.com/Global/category.asp?C=108597 - Similar
Jul 26, 2010 ... A third worker, the attendant monitoring the confined space in the event of ... death of two Iowa men attempting to unclog a North Sioux City sewer. ... Both men are from Sioux City. via OSHA investigating deaths of Iowa ... www.safetyphoto.co.uk/blog/?tag=confined-space - Similar
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Work Comp: Iowa Construction Workers Wall Collapse
Jul 07, 2010A partial wall collapse in Le Mars, Iowa injured three construction workers on a site in the historic section of downtown. The project is the conversion of a building into a Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor. A Well's Dairy spokesperson is quoted the KGAN News Center 2, a CBS affiliate, as saying four workers were in the building when the north wall collapsed; the news story indicates the injured workers were on the second floor of the building. There is no indication as to the identity of the workers.
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Injured Workers Make the Same Mistake
Jun 23, 2010I'm frustrated today because for the second time in not so many weeks I'm arguing with the workers' compensation insurance company over what an employee meant when he filled out medical forms while seated in the doctor's office. And I shouldn't have to argue about this because according to the only evidence in existence this IS A WORK RELATED INJURY!
I see it time and time again in workers' compensation cases. The worker is injured, then goes to the doctor and a form is shoved in front of him. Just before going to the company doctor the worker is questioned by the supervisor or the company nurse and is told they aren't sure this will be considered a work related injury.
So the worker now sitting in the doctor's office has several forms shoved in front of them and the simplest question seems to be difficult to know how to answer.
"Is this work related?" And the employee sees there are two boxes following that question; check off yes or no. So how do you answer that question? It's really pretty simple but if you're not familiar with workers' compensation laws you think they are asking whether the employer is considering it covered under the workers' compensation program or the health insurance program. Not knowing that it will be considered a work related injury the injured employee checks off the "no" box. He or she does this because until the employer accepts this as a work related injury it will probably be covered under the health insurance plan.
But that's not the right answer. It's the answer the employer wants to see because 6 months down the road they intend to shove that form under their medical expert's nose who will then pronounce this can't be work related because not even the injured employee thought is was right after the injury. The right answer is that it "is work related." And it matters not what the employer thinks or how the employer is treating the injury.
What matters is what you the injured employee think. And you think it is related. So when answering this question, check the "work related" box. Answer the question as if they are asking WHAT YOU THINK not how you think the employer is treating your claim.
I'm going to put this on my site multiple times, that's how important it is.
Iowa workers' compensation claims - the Iowa Industrial Commission
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Machine Operators Need Dual Palm Operator Buttons
May 13, 2010In other personal injury legal news a worker at the J.E. Adams parts manufacturing plant in Cedar Rapids lost a part of his hand when it got stuck inside the machine. I've handled similar cases involving pinch-points and dual operation palm button manufacturing machinery. Most modern machinery won't allow the operator to insert his hand into the location of a pinch point and to also start the machine's operation. In other words both of the operator's hands are needed to start the machine's manufacturing processes. For more information about this story read the Register's article titled, Worker loses part of hand in machinery, May 6, 2010.
I have to wonder how this injury could have happened. Without seeing the machinery it's not possible to know, only to speculate, which I hate to do.
A quick search using Google shows that JE Adams Industries Ltd is located at 1025 63rd Avenue Southwest, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-4749. The company website is at www.jeadams.com. As self described J.E. Adams Industries is a leading manufacturer of parts and accessories serving the self serve car washing, pressure washing, and mist cooling industries for over 35+ years. I was unable to locate any news release about this accident on the site.
Join us today on The Verdict for a comprehensive discussion of pinch point safety. Look under the category for workers' compensation.
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Fatal Accident after Crossing the Center Line
Apr 22, 2010The driver of a vehicle heading north on Highway 38 was killed when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a semi-truck. The driver crossing the center line was 38-year-old Carey Gillette of Reynolds; the semi-truck operator was Gary Anderson of Aledo, Illinois. The time of the collision was 2:40 p.m., Thursday, April 15, 2010. Assuming the facts are accurate the liability claim for Anderson survives the crash and the death of the at-fault driver. He might also have a workers' compensation claim. Workers' compensation injuries giving rise to legitimate claims take many forms. They include physical and mental injuries or varying kinds. One type of mental claim that I've seen over the past 30 years is referred to as post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD. Nightmares where the participant relives the events cause a loss of sleep, weight loss, worry, depression, denial and avoidance. This is a real condition needing treatment to correct. If you suffer from PTSD see a psychologist, psychiatrist or tell you family doctor and seek appropriate treatment. Your life doesn't have to be a continuing nightmare.
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16 Meatpacking Workers Treated for Inhaling Anhydrous Ammonia
Mar 28, 2010Iowa City, Iowa - Sixteen (16) meatpacking workers were taken to an area hospital after suffering inhalation injury from an anhydrous ammonia leak at a West Liberty plant. The tank is on the roof and according to the report it came into the plant area. Workers were treated for minor to moderate inhalation injury. The leak was caused when a suction header failed allowing 30 gallons or liquid ammonia to fall onto the roof. The value was shut off after approximately 10 minutes. Both reports identified the plant as the West Liberty Foods plant that processes turkeys.
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We will cover this same news item in an extensive blog this week. -
Chemical Handling - Sodium Hydroxide in the work place
Jan 25, 2010On Thursday, January 14th, a worker at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa passed away in the facility’s laundry center. His name was David Weaver, and although the exact cause of his death was not yet determined, it was almost certainly linked to a spill of sodium hydroxide.
What is sodium hydroxide? Chemically speaking, it’s a compound of sodium, hydroxide, and oxygen that is highly basic and reacts exothermically when combined with water, releasing large quantities of heat. It’s also called ‘lye,’ and its uses are numerous: cleaning supplies, paint stripper, drain cleaner, and even sometimes food cleanser. Most of us have cleaning supplies in our cupboards that we put up high so that the kids can’t reach them – more likely than not, those gels and powders contain sodium hydroxide.
This raises the question: if sodium hydroxide is so common, and if it’s always all around us, can it really be that dangerous? The answer is, unequivocally, yes. Sodium hydroxide has a strong caustic and corrosive effect on almost every material it comes into contact with, especially human tissue. It can burn ones’ skin, sear one’s lungs, and scar one’s eyes. Metallurgists use the chemical to etch aluminum – imagine what it can do to a human body.
What can we learn from Mr. Weaver’s death? When working with sodium hydroxide, we must exercise extreme caution. Always wear protective gear, including suitably thick gloves, masks, and glasses. Also, take a quick look around your house, and place any materials with warning labels out of reach of children. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
This accident may include issues of chemical handling, hazardous spills/containment and confined spaces along with other safety issues. Not enough is known yet about why the man was overcome and found unconscious. He may have done everything right; no matter if he did he is entitled to workers' compensation benefits and his dependents as well. Before taking on a hazardous spill contact your supervisor, know the protocol for handling a spill of the chemical and wear protective gear. After all you life may depend on it. Below are a few video clips discussing chemical handling, hazardous spills and confined spaces. If you work with sodium hydroxide or any other hazardous chemical read the material data safety sheets, take the training and if none is suggested by management, suggest they adopt a training program.
And as Mr. Conrad was fond of saying, let’s be safe out there.
That's it for today, but if I can answer any of your questions follow the link and give me a call.
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Sodium Hydroxide Leak in Mason City, Iowa
Jan 18, 2010A Mason City, Iowa hospital worker from Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa died on January 14, 2010 after being exposed to a chemical spill in the hospital's laundry facility. No specific cause of death has yet to be determined. - 10 - 10
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