The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into a Georgia workplace accident that left an injured painter suspended for two hours over the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, GA, while suffering from injuries including blunt force trauma. If you have been injured in a work-related accident in Atlanta, Marietta, or elsewhere in Georgia, contact our knowledgeable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak today to discuss your legal options. With a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Painter Struck by Metal Object
According to the accident report, the unidentified worker involved in the GA on-the-job accident was struck in the back by an “unknown metal object” while painting the 13th Street bridge above the Chattahoochee River. The blow caused him to fall and become trapped on a scaffolding ladder approximately 50 feet beneath the westbound lanes of the bridge, where he was suspended for two hours before emergency crews were able to rescue him. He was then lowered to the river bank below the bridge and transported to The Medical Center for treatment of blunt force trauma, but is expected to survive.
Construction Industry’s “Fatal Four”
The work-related accident that injured the Georgia painter falls into the category of the construction industry’s “Fatal Four” job-site accidents, which include falls, struck by object accidents, electrocution and caught-in/between accidents. OSHA officials report that, out of the 4,174 worker fatalities in the private industry during 2012, 806 or 19.3% involved construction workers. Furthermore, the Fatal Four were responsible for more than half of construction worker fatalities in 2012. According to OSHA, eliminating the Fatal Four would save 437 construction workers’ lives in the U.S. every year.
Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers Can Help
According to OSHA, the victim of the workplace accident was employed by S&D Industrial Painting, a company based out of Florida that specializes in commercial painting. New reports indicate that OSHA has previously investigated the company for a total of three workplace safety violations dating back to 2009, for which the company was forced to pay $3,200 in fines. If you have suffered injuries in an on-the-job accident in Georgia, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal job site accident, consult our workers’ compensation lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak to discuss your possible compensation options. You may be entitled to medical, disability or death benefits for your losses.
