It’s National Safety Month – Here’s How You Can Be Safer

It’s National Safety Month – Here’s How You Can Be Safer

You can be seriously injured in an accident anywhere, and injuries may cause permanent medical conditions and problems that may last a lifetime. To prevent devastating injuries, the National Safety Council (NSC) has designated June as National Safety Month, with the focus on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities. The NSC is providing downloadable resources highlighting a different safety topic for each week in June. If you or a loved one has suffered injury that was caused by someone else’s fault, negligence, or a hazardous condition on their property, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering through a personal injury lawsuit. However, your claim must be handled correctly or you may never collect the compensation you are entitled to. The skilled and experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Wapner Newman are committed to giving your case individual attention. We have helped hundreds of clients through the years to secure the compensation they need to reclaim their future through our thorough and creative investigative legal solutions. Please contact Wapner Newman today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.

Safety Topics for June

The following are topics the NSC is focusing on this year:

1. Hazard Recognition

According to OSHA, one of the main causes of workplace injuries and illnesses is the failure to identify or recognize hazards. OSHA suggests a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards:

• Collect and review information about hazards by conducting inspections. Many hazards should be fixed immediately as identified.

Typical hazards include:

• General housekeeping
• Slip, trip, and fall hazards
• Electrical hazards
• Equipment operation and maintenance
• Fire protection
• Work organization, practices, and process flow
• Workplace violence
• Ergonomic problems
• Lack of emergency procedures.

Investigate injuries, illnesses, incidents, and close calls/near misses. Health hazards include:

• chemical hazards (solvents, adhesives, paints, toxic dusts, etc.)
• physical hazards (noise, radiation, heat, etc.)
• biological hazards (infectious diseases) and ergonomic risk factors (heavy lifting, repetitive motions, vibration).

Determine the severity and likelihood of incidents that could result for each hazard identified and use this information to prioritize corrective actions.

2. Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere -- at home, in a business, at work, school or play.  Pennsylvania law requires property owners to maintain their properties, give notice or warning of any hazards, and then repair the defects. Frequent causes for slips and falls include:

• Improper concrete maintenance, resulting in uneven levels of sidewalks and floors
• Holes in or sloping of the ground
• Spills of liquid or chemicals that have not been removed
• Snow or ice in walk areas
• Bumps in carpet or failure to use slip resistance.

Under Pennsylvania law, any person, business or store open to the public is required to inspect the premises for obvious or hidden defects. The business is required to either correct or warn of the condition, and it may be held liable if it has failed to do so and is proved negligent.

3. Fatigue and Impairment

Fatigue results in decreased performance and an increase in accidents, in and out of the workplace. Effects of fatigue include exhaustion, aches, pains, dizziness, impaired focus, sleepiness, irritability, and microsleeps. Fatigued workers may experience confusion, delayed reactions, and even fall asleep during their shift. Causes of fatigue include both mental and physical factors, such as lifting heavy objects, operating machinery or tools, and performing tasks that require prolonged focus. Other factors are long commutes, overnight shifts, not having adequate rest during or after shifts, long hours, and environmental conditions like dim lighting or noisy conditions. Fatigue may also be caused by an underlying sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can easily be screened and treated.

If you are Injured

Employers, business and property owners should be taking proactive steps to create safer environments and take responsibility, but they do not always do so.  Injured parties have a right to seek compensation from the party who was negligent. To prove negligence, it must be shown that the employer, owner or manager of the property:

• Created the danger or
• Knew about the danger and didn’t handle it properly or
• Should have known about the danger.

In addition, it must be shown that:

• You were owed a responsibility not to be injured and
• The employer or owner failed in this duty because of negligence and
• The negligence caused the accident and
• You were injured as a result.

Contact Us for Legal Assistance

If you or a loved one was seriously injured or someone has died because of an unsafe condition caused by someone else’s negligence or fault, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. The seasoned and compassionate Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys at Wapner Newman offer a free consultation to examine the facts of your situation.  Our unique legal approach helps ensure that no stone is left unturned as we investigate and document every detail relating to your claim and do everything possible to get you the settlement you deserve. Do not delay. Contact us online or call our offices today for your free consultation.