Firefighters are amongst the most heroic members of the workforce, an essential part of public safety. They save lives every day just as much as doctors or healthcare professionals. Part of the job of keeping other people safe, however, means putting themselves, their lives and their health, at risk when they come into contact with fire and other job-related hazards.

Just like most other workers in Georgia, firefighters are covered by workers’ compensation. That coverage, however, is not all-inclusive many firefighters would argue. Recently, Governor Nathan Deal was slammed by firefighters around the state when he decided to veto a bill that would have extended workers’ compensation benefits to firefighters who have developed cancer due to exposure on the job.

Firefighters having trouble securing compensation after developing health problems due to their work, should contact a qualified workers’ compensation attorney to help them with their case.

Cancer Tied to Exposure During Firefighting

Although 33 states make it possible for firefighters to receive workers’ compensation for cancer, Georgia is one of the states where this rarely ever happens. Here, laws prevent firefighters from receiving workers’ compensation to cover cancer despite recent studies, including a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, that put firefighters at far greater risk for developing a variety of cancers because of the increased exposure to carcinogens.

Firefighters who develop cancer can suffer a great deal, the illness severely impacting their ability to work and support their families as well a causing physical and mental pain. Even for cases when cancer can be cured, the long-term effects on the victim can be significant, including increased risk of heart problems, infections, joint issues, learning disabilities, and a myriad of other negative consequences.

Veto of the Bill

When House Bill 216 was first introduced in February of 2015, it promised to expand certain provisions that would grant firefighters who had been diagnosed with work-related cancers to collect workers’ compensation. A little over a year later, it would pass in the state senate, only to be vetoed by Gov. Deal who stated he did not think there was enough proof to support the bill, that the problem was not yet significant enough in Georgia, and that it potentially would lead to future financial instability for Georgia workers’ compensation.

Meanwhile, the president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Georgia, Jim Davis, had harsh words for the governor. He argued the Gov. Deal was merely paying lip service to firefighters for their indispensible service, yet turning his back on them when they needed help in return. Despite safety equipment, firefighters will continue having to fight cancer, many as young as in their twenties, completely on their own.

Occupational Risks of Firefighting

Not only are firefighters at significantly higher risks for cancer, their job presents a constantly changing environment full of new hazards. In the course of their work, they will not only be faced with the carcinogens related to fighting fires, but also buildings lacking structural integrity, increasing the risk for falls, and a variety of physically and mentally strenuous situations. In addition to their duties fighting fires, these men and women are also called upon to help out in many emergency situations, including industrial disastrous, earthquakes, floods, traffic accidents, hazardous chemical or material spills, aviation, maritime accidents, as well as search and rescue missions both above and below ground. This fast-paced job, though extremely rewarding for the firefighters themselves, comes with many occupational risks including:

• Developing cancer – Frequent exposure to carcinogenic chemicals put firefighters at increased risk for developing several different cancers, particularly multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, testicular cancer, and prostate cancer. Chemicals behind these disease range from the exhaust of fire trucks to chloroform, formaldehyde, benzene, styrene, and soot, and may either be inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

• Increased risk of heart attack – Exposure to the extreme temperatures of fires also puts firefighters at risk for heart attack. In fact, research suggests that firefighters have an increased risk of anywhere from 10 to 100 times more of having a heart attack when on the scene, fighting a fire. Despite spending only 20 percent of their time fighting fires, a startling 32 percent of firefighter heart attack deaths occur at fire scenes.

• Danger from burns and smoke – Working putting out fires, of course, also exposes firefighters to the risk of getting burns. These burns range from minor to fatal third degree burns. In addition, firefighters can also be caught in burning buildings or be overwhelmed by smoke inhalation if there are any equipment failures. Combined, these threats account for 34 percent of firefighter deaths according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

• Falls – Falls can be part of almost any job, but firefighters face extreme falls in burning buildings where floors, stairways, or roofs can easily collapse with no warning. With drops of 10 feet or more, this means firefighters risk a variety of serious injuries, including broken bones.

• Strains – The serious nature of the work means firefighters must handle and wear lots of heavy equipment, including face masks, oxygen tanks, and thick coats. On top of protective gear, firefighters must also handle hoses, ladders, axes, and many other pieces of firefighting equipment.  This extra weight adds strain to the burden of doing the job and puts firefighters at significant risk for overexertion. Nearly 25 percent of all fire-related casualties are caused by such overexertion injuries.

Firefighting is an extremely dangerous, but important job. The men and women who serve in the ranks must deal with a wide range of hazards, including ones of chemical, physical, and biological natures.

Call a Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Help

Firefighters put their lives on the line to protect civilians. Without their service, society would be far weaker, yet many firefighters get left out in the cold when they develop occupational diseases. If you are a firefighter in Atlanta, Georgia and need help seeking compensation for work-related health problems, contact the attorneys at WCL Atlanta. We have extensive experience in workers’ compensation law and have helped countless clients get the compensation they deserve for their work-related injuries and illnesses.

While we all would like to think of our workplace as a safe environment, millions of fatal and nonfatal work-related accidents occur in the U.S. every year. They can happen to any worker, but there are some industries, due to the nature of the work, that have a greater inherent risk of accidents. Several industries in Georgia are considered high risk for employee mortality and accidents, including construction workers, truck drivers, maintenance workers, and others. Thankfully, most workers who are injured on the job in Georgia can rely on workers’ compensation benefits to help out with medical expenses and lost income. If you have sustained an injury at work and need help filing a claim, contact a qualified Georgia workers’ compensation attorney.

Here’s a closer look at some of the most accident prone industries and the most common types of injuries sustained by employees on the job.

Healthcare Industry

The healthcare industry includes any workers who are involved, directly or indirectly, with providing health services to individuals. In addition to doctors and other medical staff, this industry also includes employees working in medical equipment maintenance, housekeeping, building and ground maintenance, laundry, and administration.

It may seem counter-intuitive that the people we entrust to keep us in good health are actually at high risk for workplace injuries, but it’s true. Based in a variety of work environments, such as hospitals, clinics, out-patient surgery centers, dental offices, emergency facilities, nursing homes, and more, healthcare workers can face many different safety and health hazards including, but not limited to:

• Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards;
• Lifting and repetitive tasks;
• Chemical, drug, waste, and gas exposure;
• Laboratory-related hazards;
• Respiratory hazards;
• Radioactive and x-ray hazards;
• Handling of patients; and
• Slip and fall hazards.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector have the highest rates of occupational injuries and illnesses. In fact, in 2013 one in five of reported work-related injuries occurred in this sector. Musculoskeletal disorders, which make up roughly 30 percent of all workers’ compensation claims, are the highest among healthcare workers. The healthcare industry saw 249 musculoskeletal disorders per 10,000 workers compared to the average rate of 34 per 10,000 workers in 2010.

Farming, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 

Although the farming, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector employs a relatively small proportion of U.S. workers, it is one of the most prevalent industries in Georgia. In fact, without the contribution of hardworking Georgians, many parts of the country would say goodbye to many types of fruit, meat, and nut products provided by Georgia agriculture. This sector includes agricultural workers on farms with crops and livestock, fishers and hunters, forest and conservation workers, and logging workers. Workers who participate in farming, forestry, fishing, and hunting activities may be exposed to a number of work-related hazards, including:

• Machines and equipment;
• Grain bins and silos;
• Pesticides and other chemical hazards;
• Unsanitary conditions;
• Zoonotic infections and related hazards;
• Respiratory hazards; and
• Heat and excessive noise hazards;

The BLS reported an average of 5.5 injury cases per 100 workers in 2014, with the greatest number of incidents related to animal-production. In Georgia, farmers and farm laborers are exempted from workers’ compensation.

Transportation and Warehousing Sector

There are over 4.8 million workers involved in the transportation and warehousing sector, covering a wide range of industries. They are responsible for the transportation of passengers and cargo by air, rail, road, water, and pipeline, for the storage of goods, and all support activities necessary for transportation. It is unsurprising that this sector is highly prone to injury since transportation accidents are very common and warehouses are full of dangerous equipment and other hazards. Depending on the subsector the employee is working in, the hazards will differ, but may include any of the following:

• Transportation-related accidents from human or mechanical error;
• Irregular or slippery work surfaces;
• Mechanical and equipment hazards;
• Being struck or crushed by objects;
• Exposure to toxic fuels, lubricants, and exhaust fumes;
• Risk of injury from loading and unloading of cargo, stacking, and retrieving materials;
• Stress and overexertion.

In 2014, the transportation and warehousing sector reported 4.8 injuries per 100 workers to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A majority of work-related accidents in the transportation and warehousing sector can be prevented with proper and consistent safety training and practices.

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 

Considered a subsector of leisure and hospitality; there are over two million workers involved in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector. These professionals work in many different establishments and facilities that provide cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests. They range from actors, musicians, and singers to fitness trainers, gaming supervisors, and amusement and recreation attendants.

While the average number of occupational injuries in this sector is around 4.2 cases per 100 workers, the rate was higher – 4.7 – for those workers whose jobs involved “performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries.”

Manufacturing Industry

The manufacturing industry is responsible for the creation of a wide variety of products in plants, factories, and mills across the country. It is one of the most populous industries, with over 12 million workers who produce food and beverage products, textiles, apparel, paper, metal products, petroleum, plastics, electrical equipment, furniture, machinery, computers, and many other products. Some of the most serious hazards manufacturing employees face include:

• Heavy machinery and equipment;
• Chemical and bio-hazards;
• Slip and fall hazards;
• Fires from equipment and electrical wires; and
• Confined spaces that may lead to suffocation.

Government and private entities have worked diligently to reduce the number of injuries in the manufacturing sector, significantly reducing injury rates. Despite progress, the manufacturing industry still ranks as one of the most accident-prone injuries in the country, with four cases per 100 workers in 2014.

Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

Regardless of what industry you are working in, it’s important to be aware of the inherent risks of your workplace. If you have been injured in a workplace accident, there’s compensation available for your medical expenses and any missed days at work. For questions regarding your Georgia workers’ compensation claim, don’t hesitate to contact WCL Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys. We will help you find out exactly what your claim is worth and help get the most compensation available.

Machines and equipment have played a major role in the workplace since before the Industrial Revolution. At that time, many machines made for an extremely effective production method, but one that was also very dangerous. Thankfully, safety standards have improved significantly over the years and employers are now held accountable for worker injuries. However, there are still thousands of workers that are injured, or killed, in accidents involving workplace machinery and equipment every year.

 

Workers who are injured in machine-related accidents in Atlanta should contact a workers’ compensation attorney to find out more about their rights and filing a claim for compensation.

 

Common Machinery-Related Hazards and Injuries

 

Machinery and equipment injuries are prevalent in many workplaces, particularly for the manufacturing, agricultural, mining, and construction industries where work is machine-heavy. Thousands of different machines are used in these industries, presenting a number of mechanical hazards for workers, including:

 

• Possible entanglement in rotating shafts, pulleys, sprockets, or gears;
• Crushing dangers from hard surfaces moving together;
• Severing of body parts from scissor or shear action;
• Cuts or puncture wounds from moving or stationary sharp edges;
• Trips and falls on hoses, connections, or other equipment parts.

 

Accidents involving machinery frequently lead to worker fatalities. Other common workers’ compensation claims for machinery-related work injuries include:

 

• Crushing injuries;
• Amputation of fingers, arms, legs, and other body parts;
• Burns;
• Electrocutions;
• Cuts and lacerations; and
• Impact injuries from workers being struck by equipment.

 

Employer Responsibility for Safe Machinery/Equipment

 

Although accidents are inevitable, a vast majority of machine and equipment related injuries are preventable. Both employers and workers are an integral part of enacting the safety measures necessary to minimize machinery-related incidents. Employers are responsible for making sure that proper safety procedures are followed and that machines are maintained. Although the  Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) prohibits employers from disregarding safety features, but many supervisors still break rules hoping to cut-costs. This might include:

 

• Not supplying proper safety gear, such as gloves, goggles, and dust masks;
• Using low-quality equipment or parts;
• Neglecting machinery training sessions;
• Leaving broken equipment in the workplace; and
• Ignoring complaints regarding malfunctioning equipment.

 

If workers notice their employer ignoring safety in regards to equipment, they should file a complaint against the employer for jeopardizing their safety.

 

Defective Machinery and Product Liability

 

Although safety lapses are frequently the cause of worker injuries, there are a number of workplace accidents related to machinery that happen because of defects in the equipment itself. When this is the case, a worker may not only qualify for workers’ compensation insurance, they may also have a third-party claim for products liability against the manufacturer of the defective equipment.

 

Contact an Attorney

 

Machine and equipment injuries are frequently severe enough that a worker will need to miss significant amounts of work and require extensive medical treatment. If you are a worker in Atlanta who has been injured in a machine-related accident, you have the right to be compensated. Contact Workers Compensation Lawyers so speak with a qualified Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney who can answer your questions and guide you through the process.

On every workers’ compensation claim, a reason for the injury must be listed. Topping of the list of most frequently cited causes of workplace injury, is overexertion. In fact, non-fatal disabling injuries related to overexertion cost employers roughly $15 billion in workers’ compensation in 2013. For the purposes of workers’ compensation, overexertion can be defined as exerting yourself too much or working beyond your physical capabilities.

 

Because overexertion is partially the fault of the worker, many workers may think that they would not qualify for workers’ compensation. This is untrue. In Georgia, workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance and workers still have the right to file a claim to receive compensation even if their injury was the result of overexertion. If you are a worker in Atlanta with any questions regarding overexertion and a workplace injury, contact a workers’ compensation attorney to speak about the specifics of your case.

 

Jobs With High Risk of Overexertion

 

Almost all workers have the potential for sustaining overexertion injuries. This is perhaps why, nearly 25 percent of workers’ compensation claims are related to overexertion in some way. However, the Department of Labor classifies certain workers as higher risk for injuries related to overexertion. Some of these jobs include:

 

 

• Construction – Consistently amongst the most dangerous industries, overexertion is easily one of the biggest problems for construction workers. Long hours and the need to move heavy materials in rain or shine means there’s a perpetual threat of overexertion to all workers.

 

 

 

• Health Care – Many healthcare workers, such as nurses, EMTs, and home health aides spend hours of their day lifting and moving people or objects around. These repetitive movements combined with long shifts mean overexertion injuries are prevalent in this field.

 

 

 

• Warehouse and Retail – Overexertion is also common amongst warehouse and retail workers who spend long hours in repetitive tasks, including moving objects on and off shelves or scanning inventory. Any worker that is lifting, carrying, or pushing objects could face an overexertion injury.

 

 

 

• Trucking – It may seem counterintuitive, but truck drivers who sit for long hours and move heavy objects are also prime targets for overexertion. Proper stretching and safety equipment can reduce the risk of serious injuries.

 

 

Common Injuries Related to Overexertion

 

Overexertion may plague workers carrying out many different tasks and is often classified into subcategories related to lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, or throwing objects. Sprains and strains are some of the most common types of injuries related to exertion. Other frequently cited injuries include:

 

• Shoulder and back injuries;
• Twisted ankles;
• Tendon and joint injuries;
• Neck injuries;
• Leg or knee injuries; and
• Hernias.

 

Fortunately, overexertion injuries can be prevented by following safety procedures and understanding your personal limits.

You Deserve Compensation

Even though workers should do their best to work within their physical limits, they still have the right to receive compensation if they overexert themselves doing job-related tasks. Overexertion injuries can have long-term impacts on the ability of a worker to continue performing their normal tasks and may even lead them to lose their job. If you are an Atlanta worker who has sustained an injury due to overexertion, contact the legal team at Workers Compensation Lawyers. With years of experience in Atlanta workers’ compensation law, our attorneys will make sure all your questions are answered and that you receive the maximum settlement possible.

 

Roadway accidents are the biggest reasons for injuries and fatalities, especially when it comes to occupational injuries. With over half a million trucks on the highway every day, it isn’t surprising that injuries in the trucking industry account for millions of dollars of workers’ compensation annually. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012 the rates of both fatal and nonfatal injuries and illnesses in truck drivers was higher than the average of all other private industries.

 

Trucking accidents can often be devastating, with severe injuries that prevent the trucker from working. If you are a trucking industry employee that has been injured in a trucking accident, you may qualify for workers’ compensation. Speak to a qualified workers’ compensation attorney to find out more about what benefits are available.

 

Common Injuries

 

Accidents in the trucking industry may lead to a variety of injuries, including:

 

• Bruises;
• Cuts and lacerations;
• Sprains and strains;
• Spinal, brain, or other traumatic injuries; and
• Fractures.

 

While many accidents in the trucking industry are transportation related, many truckers are also injured due to overexertion, being struck by objects, and falls.

 

Reasons For Trucking Accidents & Prevention

 

Accidents are almost an inevitable part of driving and even the safest drivers will likely be in an accident at least once. For truckers, the chances are much higher given their jobs require them to do more driving in a single day than most people do in a whole week. A majority of accidents, however, are preventable, including the top reasons trucking accidents happen:

 

 

• Reckless or careless driving – This includes speeding and unsafe acceleration or deceleration, distracted driving, improper braking, and many other behaviors both on the part of truck drivers and other motorists.

 

 

 

• Driver fatigue – Many truck drivers spend hours driving without sleeping or taking breaks, leading to driver fatigue. Because delivery times are sensitive, companies often turn a blind eye to overworked drivers.

 

 

 

• Cargo shifting or improperly loaded trucks – While there are many regulations in place to ensure safe load weights, companies and drivers often ignore these rules. Excess weight significantly reduces a driver’s ability to safely maneuver the vehicle.

 

 

 

• Poor maintenance and repair work – Maintenance and repair work is particularly important as vehicles cover thousands of miles, but many companies cut corners or completely neglect their trucks.

 

 

 

• Substance abuse – Alcohol and other drug abuse accounts for a significant number of accidents in the trucking industry.

 

 

Companies should, thus, focus on maintaining trucks and equipment, following regulations, and ensuring drivers are properly trained in safety. Truckers should always:

 

• Be properly rested;
• Eat healthy to stay alert;
• Drive defensively, keep distance, and stay within speed limits;
• Wear a seatbelt; and
• Maintain their truck.

 

Each trucker can reduce the number of total accidents by following these simple tips and are the first step in prevention of trucking industry accidents.

 

Getting Compensation

 

Trucking accidents are often the most severe accidents on the roadways. Injuries are often serious, requiring both time off work and extensive medical treatment. If you are a trucker working in Atlanta or Georgia and have been in an accident while working, call Workers Compensation Lawyers to speak to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Atlanta about receiving compensation. Our legal team can answer any questions you have about benefits, getting treatment, and filing a claim.