Workers Compensation | Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC

Utah Construction Worker Killed by Falling Concrete in Bluffdale Construction Accident

Jay Butchko — Tue, 07 May 2024 11:49:16 +0000

Construction work can certainly be said to be one of the most dangerous and risky jobs to workers in the United States. With a number of workplace hazards on the job every day, such as falling objects, extreme temperatures, crushing hazards, working with heavy machinery and equipment, exposure to sharp tools and dangerous substances, and even out-of-control-traffic on roadside jobs, construction workers have much to face when it comes to their work. Accordingly, and unfortunately, serious and even fatal construction accidents are not all-too rare in Louisiana and throughout the United States. The recent death of a Utah construction worker at a construction site demonstrates this terrible reality.

According to local news reports, KSL.com, this week on Thursday, April 25, a construction worker who was working for concrete product manufacturer Olympus Precast in Bluffdale, Utah was involved in a concrete accident that took his life. Investigators believe that the construction worker was killed after concrete panels fell onto him at the worksite, trapping him underneath. Bluffdale Fire Chief Matt Evans noted of the accident, “We were informed that some big cement slabs had fallen on a victim”, and confirmed that the construction worker involved in the accident was killed at the scene. The horrific accident is still under investigation, and serves as a harsh reminder of the dangers that construction workers who work with concrete face on the job on a daily basis.

Cement Poses Threat to Construction Worker Safety

Although less talked about than other workplace accidents that are seen in the construction industry, cement-related accidents can be extremely dangerous to workers. Due to its sheer weight, chemical makeup, and potential for falling, crushing, or trapping workers, concrete-involved accidents can be fatal. Accordingly, workers who work with concrete must be careful to follow safety procedures and rules, and employers who employ workers who work with concrete must implement the highest standard of safety regulations and maintain a safe work environment.

Legal Help for Injured Workers in Louisiana

In Louisiana, most workers who are injured on the job and who are unable to work are entitled to important money benefits to help them while they are out of work. Under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws, Louisiana workers who are eligible for workers compensation benefits may receive compensation in the form of wage replacement benefits, medical expense reimbursement, vocational rehabilitation training, and more. In order to find out whether you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in Louisiana, it is best to speak with an experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after a serious workplace injury occurs.

The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help you get workers’ compensation benefits due to you. Contact the experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your rights and options for free.

Source:

ksl.com/article/50992744/worker-killed-by-falling-cement-slabs-in-bluffdale

Missouri Food Plant Worker Killed after Getting Stuck in Machine

Jay Butchko — Wed, 01 May 2024 10:00:15 +0000

A Missouri food plant worker was killed after becoming trapped inside of a machine at the plant where he was on shift. According to local news reports, on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 6, at around 3:40 p.m., first responders in Carthage, Missouri, received an emergency call for help from the Schreiber Foods manufacturing facility. Carthage is a small town in Missouri, approximately 140 miles south of Kansas City, and with a population of around 15,000 people.

Local law enforcement officers report that a 48-year-old Schreiber Foods plant worker fell into what is described as an “automated palletizing machine”, and became stuck inside the machine. Automated palletizing machines are typically used to pick up items and then place them onto a pallet for shipping. By the time that first responders arrived on the scene, the worker had been freed from it, but was badly bleeding. The worker is reported to have been, at that time, alive, but unconscious, with shallow breathing. Although life saving measures were implemented on the scene, including the call for a helicopter to take the worker to the hospital for emergency care, he died at the plant before transport arrived.

Schreiber Foods released a statement in connection with the horrific workplace death. The company stated, “We’re devastated by the loss of one of our dear friends and coworkers…Our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends at this difficult time.” Schreiber Foods deals in dairy and plant-based dairy products, and is a “customer-brand leader in cream cheese, natural cheese, process cheese, beverages and yogurt – including plant-based options.” The worker who was tragically killed has not yet been identified to the public, and police believe that federal investigators will investigate the incident further.

Help for Louisiana Workers who are Injured on the Job

In Louisiana, when most workers are injured on the job and are unable to work due to their workplace injury, they are entitled to Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits to help them financially while they recover. Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits include important financial benefits such as wage replacement benefits, medical expense reimbursement, vocational training, and other important benefits. In order to determine whether you may be entitled to Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits after your workplace injury, it is important to discuss the specific facts of your unique case with an experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible.

The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC are here to help Louisiana workers get workers’ compensation benefits due. They offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your workplace accident case and to see if they can help you get worker’s compensation benefits due under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws. They work on a contingency-fee basis, so they only recover attorneys’ fees if you are successful with your case. Contact the experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to an experienced lawyer about your rights and options for free.

Source:

kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article285203882.html

Chicago Worker Killed in Horrific Workplace Fire Near O’Hare International Airport

Jay Butchko — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:00:44 +0000

There is no doubt that workplace fires can be some of the most serious and most dangerous on-the-job accidents that can happen to a worker. A single spark can ignite caustic substances, a machine malfunction can cause a fiery blaze, and a one wrong move can cause an explosion when unstable chemicals and unpredictable elements are involved. Indeed, with workplace fires, just like fires that destroy a home, any person and almost anything that gets in the flames can be turned into ash. Unfortunately, a horrific and fatal workplace fire broke out this week at a Chicago business, killing one worker and causing massive devastation in its wake.

According to local news reports, on the morning of Tuesday, February 13, the Pan Am Trucking semi-truck tractor repair facility located at United Lane and Pam Am Boulevard in Chicago caught fire for unknown reasons. In the fire, a 50-year-old worker suffered severe burns to his body, and was taken to the hospital for emergency medical treatment. Unfortunately, the worker ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died. In addition to the horrific and tragic death of the worker as a result of the workplace blaze, the fire left a number of vehicles and the work building itself damaged, and the fire caused a power outage in the surrounding area. The terrible workplace fire is still under investigation, and a cause is yet to be determined.

Help for the Families of Workers Killed in Workplace Fires in Louisiana

In Louisiana, when a worker is killed in a workplace fire, or other type of fatal workplace accident, certain dependent members of their family may be entitled to Louisiana workers’ compensation death benefits. Louisiana workers’ compensation death benefits were designed to help the dependent family members of workers killed on the job financially while they navigate life after the loss of a loved one. Although nothing can truly replace the loss of a loved one killed in a workplace accident, it is important for family members to learn their rights to Louisiana workers’ compensation death benefits in the event that a family member is killed on the job. Of course, in order to determine whether you may have a case for Louisiana workers’ compensation death benefits, it is best to speak with an experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible about your rights and options to compensation.

A Louisiana Law Firm that Helps the Families of Workers Killed on the Job

The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your unique workers’ compensation death benefits case and to see if they can help represent you in your fight to get worker’s compensation death benefits due. Certain time limitations may apply to your workers’ compensation death benefits claim, so it is best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible about your rights and options. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to an experienced lawyer about your case for free.

Source:

cbsnews.com/chicago/news/worker-dies-burned-suburban-chicago-blaze-near-ohare/

New York Construction Worker Death Toll Up from Prior Years, Options for Louisiana Construction Workers Injured on the Job

Jay Butchko — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 10:00:26 +0000

When we read about construction worker and other worker deaths in the news, we often see numbers, data, and statistics, but we often fail to pause and think about the actual workers who have tragically passed away on the job. That fact makes this statement by Charlene Obernauer, the executive director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health more important than ever: That each workplace death involves “a worker who had a family, who was a loved one in their community, who lost their lives.” Obernauer went on to say of workplace accidents that “Every single time it does not cease to amaze me how preventable these injuries and fatalities are, and how every single one is connected to a worker who has a story, who’s had a full like before that moment, when their life was put to an end as a result of unsafe construction sites.”

Obernauer’s comments come on the heels of a new report detailing the most recent data concerning construction worker deaths in New York. According to the recent report, a total of 24 construction workers died on the job in New York City in 2022, up from 20 deaths in 2021. The most recent data suggests that construction worker deaths are up to where they were before the COVID-10 pandemic, at 11.5 worker deaths per 100,000 workers. The study also revealed another telling data point when it comes to construction worker safety: of the 39 construction worksites that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated after a construction worker death in 2022, 90% of the workers were not unionized. In sum, construction workers, particularly those that are not part of a union, are at a high risk of being injured on the job, and are also at risk of being involved in a fatal workplace accident.

Rights and Options for Construction Workers in Louisiana – Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Injured Workers

In Louisiana, when most workers, including construction workers and other workers, are injured on the job and are unable to work, Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits are available to help keep them on their feet financially so they can heal from their injuries and return to their regular jobs. Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits may include wage replacement compensation, medical expense reimbursement to treat the workplace injury, and other important benefits under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws. In addition, certain dependent family members of those workers who have been killed on the job may have rights and options under Louisiana workers’ compensation death benefits laws. Of course, in order to determine whether you may have a case for Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits or workers’ compensation death benefits, it is important to speak to an experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer about your rights and options.

The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your workplace injury and to see if they can help you get workers’ compensation benefits due. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case for free.

Source:

thecity.nyc/2024/02/13/nyc-construction-deaths-osha-2022/

25-Ton Car Manufacturing Mold Falls on Japanese Plant Worker at Subaru Plant, Dangers of Falling Objects in the Workplace Cannot be Ignored

Jay Butchko — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:00:39 +0000

News of the death of a Subaru car plant worker in Japan has spread around the globe and serves as a stark and solemn reminder of the dangers of falling objects in workplaces around the world. According to Auto123 Online, a Japanese worker who was working at a Subaru motor vehicle manufacturing plant in Yajima in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, was killed on the evening of February 13, when a 25-ton mold used in the manufacturing process fell on him from above. The worker, who is said to have been a 60-year-old man with 35 years of experience working as an employee for Subaru, was working alone and operating a crane with a remote control to move the heavy molds. In the process, one of the molds is reported to have collapsed, “pinning [the worker] against another [mold]”. An autopsy of the worker revealed that he, ultimately, died due to asphyxiation.

Subaru is said to have halted all production at three of its manufacturing plants in response to the 60-year-old longtime worker’s terrible and horrific death. The Yajima Subaru manufacturing plant, where the worker was working, is where Impreza, Outback, Crosstrek, and Forester Subaru vehicles are manufactured.

Dangers of Falling Objects in Manufacturing Workplaces

The tragic accident that claimed the life of the 60-year-old worker in Yajima, Japan, is a reminder to all workers, particularly those in the manufacturing industry, that falling objects in the workplace can pose a serious threat to life and limb. In the blink of an eye, a regular workday can turn into a catastrophic and fatal accident when heavy or hazardous items, materials, or substances fall from heights onto workers. Workers can be killed by being crushed by falling objects, asphyxiated, like the Subaru worker, and can also be seriously injured by caustic or flammable materials. In order to prevent accidents caused by falling objects in the workplace, workers should exercise extreme caution, follow safety protocols, and make sure to wear adequate personal protective gear and equipment. Of course, employers should ensure that workplaces are free from falling hazards and that workplaces are safe for all workers.

Justice for Injured Workers in Mississippi

In Mississippi, most workers who are injured on the job and who are unable to work are entitled to important financial support called workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits are available to most Mississippi workers to help them get back on their feet while they heal from their injuries, so that they can return to their regular jobs. Workers’ compensation benefits in Mississippi may include things like wage replacement compensation, medical expense reimbursement, and vocational training, among other important benefits. In order to determine whether you may be owed Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits, and potentially how much, it is best to speak with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible about your particular case.

The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can fight to get you Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits due. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case for free.

Source:

auto123.com/en/news/subaru-production-suspended-death-worker/71210/

Bureau of Labor Statistics Identifies Most Dangerous Jobs for American Workers

Jay Butchko — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:00:34 +0000

With all of the technological advancements that we have in this modern age, we still face some of the problems that we had way back in the industrial revolution. One of those major problems is the lack of worker safety in many American jobs. Indeed, each day masses of American workers clock into unsafe jobs where they may end up severely injured and disabled, or maybe even dead. Acknowledging the number of significant safety risks that many American workplaces present, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides recent insights into just how dangerous American workplaces can be. To help Louisiana workers better understand the landscape when it comes to worker safety in America, we share some of the recent findings from the BLS’ 2022 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary here.

The Numbers Do Not Lie when it Comes to the Dangers Workers Face Every Day on the Job

Here are some of the key findings when it comes to worker fatalities by occupation, according to the BLS’ 2022 survey:

Fatalities in jobs within the transportation and material moving industry increased, with a 2022 rate of 14.6 worker fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. According to the BLS, this increase was caused by driver/sales worker deaths and truck driver death increases of 8.0%;
The industry that saw the second largest number of worker fatalities in 2022 was the construction and extraction industry. Within that industry, slip and fall and tripping events caused 423 worker fatalities. The 2022 fatality rate for workers within the construction and extraction industry hit 13.0 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers;
Protective service occupations saw an increase in worker fatalities from 9.4 worker deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2021, to 10.2 worker deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2022;
The industry with the highest worker fatality rate in 2022 was farming, fishing, and forestry. In 2021, the worker fatality rate was 20.0 worker deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, which increased to 23.5 worker deaths per 100,000 full-time workers in 2022.

Justice for Louisiana Workers Injured on the Job

In Louisiana, most workers who are injured on the job and who are disabled from working are entitled to important financial benefits to assist them while they heal from their workplace injuries and get back on their feet. These benefits are called Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits, and they include wage replacement compensation, medical expense reimbursement, vocational rehabilitation training, and other important benefits. In order to determine whether you may be owed Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits for your workplace injury, it is best to speak with an experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after a workplace injury occurs.

The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your workplace injury and to see if they can help get you compensation due. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your rights and options for free.

Source:

bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm

10 Things Employers Can do to Help Prevent Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents in Mississippi Workplaces

Jay Butchko — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:00:38 +0000

There is no question that slip, trip and fall accidents are both fairly common in the workplace and have the potential to seriously injure workers, and even result in death. Indeed, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), in the year 2021 alone, a whopping 850 workers died in fall accidents, and an additional hundreds of thousands more were injured severely enough to have to take time off of work. Slip and fall accidents can be deceiving because we often lose our footing or stumble over things as a result of just walking in our everyday lives. However, as the NSC notes, “A worker doesn’t have [sic] to fall from a high level to suffer fatal injuries; 136 workers were killed in falls on the same level in 2020….” In addition, the NSC underscores that fall accidents in the workplace are “100% preventable.” But what can employers do to keep workers safe from slip, trip, and fall accidents in the workplace? To help Mississippians better understand how employers can help keep workers safe on the job when it comes to slip, trip, and fall accidents, we provide 10 safety tips that employers can implement to avoid these unnecessary and preventable accidents in the workplace.

10 Safety Tips for Employers to Prevent Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents

Employers can take steps to keep employees safe from slip, trip and fall accidents. Here are 10 ways to increase slip, trip and fall safety in the workplace:

Ensure floors are clean and maintained: it is important for employers to regularly clean floors and monitor these surfaces for any spills or debris that may cause an accident;
Keep the lights on: employers should make sure that work areas are well-lit and that workers can see where they are going;
Place signs where appropriate: using signage in the workplace to indicate wet or slippery surfaces can prevent accidents;
Keep the workforce trained: employers should train employees on safety procedures, including those to prevent slip, trip and fall accidents;
Lead the charge on proper footwear: employees should be encouraged to wear proper footwear for the particular workplace;
Clear walkways: employers should ensure that walkways where workers travel are clear and free from any objects that workers can trip on;
Encourage safety reports: employees should be encouraged to report any safety hazards in the workplace;
Use easy tools, such as non-slip mats: employers can make the workplace safer by using safety tools, such as non-slip mats;
Inspect, inspect, inspect: employers should not leave it to employees to maintain and monitor the workplace, and should do routine inspections of their own;
Implement all safety guidelines: employers must adhere to safety guidelines and should encourage employees to do the same.

If you were injured on the job in Mississippi and you are seeking help with your Mississippi workers’ compensation claim, contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help get you workers’ compensation benefits due. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to an experienced lawyer about your case for free.

Ladder Safety Month Raises Awareness of Fall Hazards on the Job

Jay Butchko — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:00:11 +0000

We all have a different level of comfort and experience when it comes to using ladders at home and at work. While some people nimbly race up a ladder to put up their Christmas lights in the winter or to fix an electric line on the job, others are less inclined to crawl to heights, and would rather stay safely on the ground. Regardless of how comfortable we may be with ladders, however, there is no doubt that they can be extremely dangerous, and ladder-related accidents can lead to serious injury and even death, in some cases. Due to the dangerous nature of ladders for those both experienced and not-so-experienced, March has been coined “Ladder Safety Month”. To help ring in the month and spread ladder safety awareness to Louisiana workers, we provide some helpful information about ladder safety from the National Safety Council (NSC) here.

How Dangerous are Ladder Accidents? The Numbers tell a Shocking Story

When it comes to the statistics on ladder accidents, the numbers may shock the average Louisiana worker. In the United States in 2021 alone, there were a total of 44,686 ladder deaths at both home and at work. Furthermore, in some industries, ladder-related falls are the number one cause of workplace deaths. When it comes to workplace ladder deaths, in 2021, 850 workers were killed in fall accidents at work, and hundreds of thousands were injured by fall accidents to the extent that they had to call out of work. Although, according to the NSC, construction workers are most at risk of being involved in fatal fall accidents on the job, “falls can happen anywhere, even at a ‘desk job’”.

Fall Accidents, “Par for the Course” in the Workplace, or Preventable?

One question that both Louisiana employers and workers may wonder is just how can fall accidents be prevented in the workplace? The truth of the matter, according to the NSC, is that fall accidents in the workplace are 100% preventable, and workers and employers can take steps to keep workers safe from serious injuries due to falls. In order to prevent fall accidents and deaths from falls in the workplace, the NSC first advises that workers determine whether working from a height is absolutely necessary to do the task at hand, and to only engage in working at heights if there is no other way to complete the work task in another way not from a height. If the work must be performed at heights, the NSC recommends that workers make sure that they are properly trained how to use a ladder and consult with coworkers regarding all the necessary equipment that is required to do the task. The NSC notes that ladders should always be placed on a solid surface and that “a straight or extension ladder should be 1 foot away from the surface it rests on for every 4 feet of height and extend at least 3 feet over the top edge.”

Legal Help for Louisiana Workers Injured on the Job

If you were injured on the job in Louisiana, it is important to learn about your rights and options to Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits. Reach out to the experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC for a free and confidential consultation and learn about your rights. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case for free.

3M Hit with “Willful” Safety Violations after Two Workers Die in Fatal Workplace Accidents

Jay Butchko — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 10:00:53 +0000

The tragic and horrific story of a worker who was killed at a 3M factory in Wisconsin raises questions about whether the company was “indifferent” to worker safety after being hit with “willful” safety violations. According to the Star Tribune, 3M worker Trisha Jones was killed on May 9, 2023 when she was assisting with setting up a plastic extrusion machine, which was designed to allow materials to be guided through the machine’s rollers manually. The machine’s rollers were meant to move at a slow speed during the setup of the machine, and it was designed with a safety gate. However, Jones, who was in training at the time, was caught between the rollers as she helped to set up the machine. Although other workers tried to save Jones by cutting plastic fibers and freeing her, she had already, unfortunately, suffered serious head injuries. Jones was 57 years old and had worked at the 3M factory in Prairie du Chien for 23 years. Surprisingly, and horrifically, Trisha Jones was not the only 3M worker to die at a 3M factory in recent times. In fact, in 2022, a worker at 3M’s factory in Alexandria, Minnesota was caught and crushed in a similar accident with a 3M roller machine and was killed.

According to reports, after the fatal accident in Alexandria, 3M did a corporate review and determined that the machine rollers were, indeed, hazardous to workers and were in need of safety improvements. In addition, after Jones’ 2023 death, in November, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) hit 3M with two “willful” safety violations, a rare citation for employers to receive. 3M states that it will appeal the violations, noting, “Thought we seek to amicably resolve this matter with OSHA, we do not agree with its characterization of the situation as “willful”, as well as other aspects of its proposed citations and details of its public statements in this matter.” Trisha Jones is remembered as a hard worker who had dreams of one day owning her own café after plans to retire from her tenure at 3M at the age of 62. The tragic story raises questions over whether 3M was indifferent to worker safety, and whether “willful” safety violations for the two worker deaths will stick.

What Can Workers Do in Louisiana when They are Seriously Injured on the Job?

Trisha Jones’ story also raises questions about what workers can do when they are seriously injured on the job. In Louisiana, under state workers’ compensation laws, most workers who are seriously injured at work, and who are rendered unable to work due to their workplace injuries, are entitled to important benefits to help them heal from their injuries and go back to their regular jobs. In addition, under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws, certain dependent family members of workers who are killed in workplace accidents may be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits.

Legal Help for Louisiana Workers and Their Families

If you were injured in a serious workplace accident in Louisiana, or your loved one was killed in a fatal workplace accident, and you are seeking benefits under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws, contact the experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help you get workers’ compensation benefits due. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case for free.

Source:

startribune.com/3m-osha-willful-violation-prairie-du-chien-wisconsin-plant-death/600349081/?refresh=true

Minnesota DOT Worker Honored, Bridge Renamed after Fatal Work Accident

Jay Butchko — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:00:13 +0000

There is no doubt that America’s construction workers are the unsung heroes that build and maintain our streets, buildings, and infrastructure that is vital to our everyday lives. What is less discussed, however, is just how dangerous construction work can be, and the risks that construction workers face every day that they step onto a job site. A tragic case out of Minnesota underscores this point, and reignites the discussion of how employers can keep America’s hardworking construction workers safer at work.

In August, 2023, Michael Gau, a 54-year-old Minnesota DOT worker, was working on a road bridge project when he was hit and killed by a dump truck that was inside of the construction work zone. Gau was a beloved member of his family, and of the community. He was also a volunteer firefighter who had been with the Belle Plaine Fire Department for 23 years. Of Gau, Minnesota legislator Representative Ginny Klevorn said, “Our state lost a dedicated and beloved MnDOT employee in a tragic work accident…Mr. Gau deserves to be honored for his service….” Accordingly, to honor Gau and his lifetime of service to the community, Rep. Klevorn introduced a bill to rename the bridge for which Gau lost his life. The bill was approved this week and the Rockford Road Bridge Project bridge, the bridge over Highway 169 in Plymouth, Minnesota, will be renamed the Michael Gau Memorial Bridge. Rep. Klevorn also added in memory of Gau, “Mike never knew a stranger and his smile drew everyone toward him…He’s described by friends as the most loyal person you would ever meet. Not a sit-on-the-couch kind of guy, Mike is described as energetic and my favorite word, goofy.”

Help for Injured Workers in Mississippi

In Mississippi, under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, when most workers are injured on the job (with some exceptions), they are entitled to important financial benefits to help them while they heal from their injuries and return to work. Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits include wage replacement benefits, medical expense reimbursements, vocational rehabilitation training, and other important benefits. In addition, under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, certain dependent surviving family members of workers who are killed on the job in Mississippi may be entitled to Mississippi workers’ compensation death benefits. Of course, every case is different and unique, so it is best to speak with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible to learn about your rights and options.

A Law Firm that Helps Injured Workers in Mississippi

If you were injured in a workplace accident in Mississippi and you need assistance with your workers’ compensation claim, contact the experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help you get Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits due to you. Contact the experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC and speak to a lawyer about your rights and options today.

Source:

ccxmedia.org/news/house-approves-renaming-rockford-road-bridge-to-honor-fallen-mndot-worker/