Arizona Construction Accident Lawyer Blog

As lawyers who handle work injuries in Arizona, we know the importance of employees knowing their rights. Recently a rights poster, sized 11 X 17 is required to be openly displayed in the work area. The requirement that this poster be in an open and obvious place is causing quite a stir among business and labor leaders. The National Labor Relations Board issued a new rule requiring employers to display a sign which lists the rights of workers under the National Labor Relations Act. No new rights or regulations have been added to the list - simply the requirement to openly display the list itself, which outlines the rights, privileges, and protections already guaranteed to employees. The NLRB has agreed to supply businesses with the posters to reduce any costs on the employer’s end, and has said that is merely a continuation of pre-existing policies. After reading this sign, a worker who is injured might understand more of their rights in Arizona.

However, some business leaders are criticizing the new rule. Peter Schaumber, former NLRB chairman appointed by George W. Bush, has called the measure “arbitrary,” and “capricious.” Others worry that it will encourage workers to unionize, if they have not already done so. AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, however, sees it as a natural step toward keeping workers aware and informed of their civil rights, as well as their rights to healthy and safe working environments.

Workers are entitled to many things in addition to the right to unionize - and the most basic of those is the right to work in a safe environment. As Arizona work injury lawyers, if you have been injured while on the job and are seeking compensation, you deserve the counsel of attorneys who focus in injury and wrongful death law and who can boast a 98% success rate in settling their cases. Contact the offices of the Husband and Wife Law Team Law for a free consultation today. Call 602-457-6222.

Although the number of construction accidents in the United States declined by 16 percent in 2009, the construction industry still accounts for the highest number of fatal occupational injuries in the country. The number of fatal injuries in the construction industry exceeded the number of fatalities caused by the transportation, agriculture and manufacturing industries in 2009.

Construction fatalities accounted for 19 percent of all occupational fatalities, with specialty trade contractors accounting for more of these fatalities than building construction workers and heavy construction workers.

Construction workers should follow all safety regulations mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to reduce the risk of accidents. Unfortunately, some employers have little regard for these regulations and do not give workers the tools and equipment needed to maintain a safe work environment. As experienced construction accident lawyers in Phoenix, we have seen first-hand the dangers that result from violating OSHA safety standards in Arizona. When employers skimp on safety equipment and worker training, several types of accidents can occur.

• Falls from scaffolding
• Crane accidents
• Electrical accidents
• Explosions
• Nail gun accidents
• Fires
• Elevator accidents
• Structural failures
• Equipment malfunction

These accidents lead to life-threatening and sometimes fatal injuries for workers just trying to earn a living. Following the established safety protocols are essential to preventing construction accident injuries in Arizona and nationwide.

If your loved one suffered a serious or fatal construction accident injury in Arizona as the result of someone else’s negligence, contact the experienced Phoenix construction accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. Our attorneys have the skills and expertise needed to work with accident victims and their families. We will work hard to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact us today at (602) 457-6222.

According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office for Phoenix, heat is the number one weather related cause of death in the United States. In Arizona heat is the number one cause of weather related deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that from 1993 to 2003, 253 deaths in Arizona were heat related. Often times peoples whose jobs require them to work outside become victims of heat sickness and heat stroke.

With record breaking heat above 110 degrees being reported at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport the dangers of heat exhaustion increase. An excessive heat warning has been issued for Phoenix, Yuma, Lake Havasu, Bullhead City, and Kingman until Thursday. The risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke increases as the temperatures rise. According to ABC 15 temperatures this high put stress on a person’s body and can lead to heat-related illness or even death. As experienced work injury lawyers with the Arizona Law Team at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., we have seen how difficult recovering from a heat-illness can be, as well as how difficult a fatal heat-illness can be for a victim’s family.

According to the CDC defines heat stroke as the most serious heat-related illness. Heat stoke occurs when the body can no longer control its core temperature. Symptoms of heat stroke are a temperature of 103 and above, red hot and dry skin, rapid strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and unconsciousness. If you suspect a person is suffering from heat stroke you should try to cool their body rapidly by putting them in a cold bath, shower, spray them with a cold garden hose, or sponge cold water on the person while waiting for emergency help to arrive. If you work outside or in a hot environment and feel any of these symptoms you should stop work immediately and call 911.

If you or a loved one has suffered from heat stroke or other heat-related illness while working at an Arizona jobsite, our experienced on the job injury attorneys in Scottsdale please call (480) 753-4534, for a free consultation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that as many as 2.3 million construction workers use scaffolding regularly. When workers do not erect or use scaffolding properly, falls and other accidents can occur. Workers and supervisors should follow several basic scaffolding safety tips to reduce the risk of these accidents.

• Avoid using unstable objects to support scaffolds. Workers should not use boxes, bricks or similar objects for support.
• Scaffolding must always have midrails and guardrails. Another safety feature required by OSHA is toeboards, which prevent materials from falling off the scaffold and hitting people on the ground.
• Workers should erect scaffolds a minimum of 10 feet from electric power lines to reduce the risk of electrocution and other accidents.
• A “competent person” must supervise the assembly, movement and dismantling of scaffold. This person must inspect scaffolding regularly and train employees on how to use scaffold properly.
• If a worker notices damaged or loose braces, screw legs, brackets or other scaffold components, he should report them immediately. These components should be immediately replaced or repaired.
• Workers should take care to keep rope away from heat sources to reduce the risk of fires.

These safety tips should help construction workers protect themselves from falls and other scaffolding injuries. However, workers cannot always avoid accidents caused by the negligence of others. The Tucson scaffold accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. have the experience needed to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries, pain and suffering, and loss of income. Call us at 1-602-457-6222 for answers to your questions and advice on how to proceed.