Industrial Accident Injuries
Large machinery, dangerous chemicals, and high temperatures are just a few of the dangers experienced by industrial workers each day. Due to the inherent danger of industrial jobs, employers have an obligation to protect their workers, site visitors, their communities, and the environment.
- Burns from chemicals, explosions, or fires
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Unstable scaffolding
- Electric shock
- Crushing
- Penetrating or blunt force trauma
The accidents listed above are just a few of the possible tragedies that employees and contractors face each day in the industrial world. However, employers are not released from responsibility simply because the nature of industrial work is dangerous. In fact, companies are required by law to look after those who work for their profits.
Industrial Accident Statistics & Figures
According to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), 469 workers lost their lives in Texas in 2020, accounting for nearly 10% of all fatal occupational injuries in the United States that year. 92% of these fatalities occurred in the private sector. Industrial workers made up the majority of occupational fatalities. While the construction industry had the highest number of workplace fatalities, accounting for 27% of all occupational fatalities in Texas, the transportation and warehousing industry came in second with 20% of all worker fatalities. Natural resources and mining came in third, professional and business services was fourth, and manufacturing was fifth.
What caused industrial fatalities in 2020? According to the TDI:
- Transportation incidents caused 46% of occupational fatalities.
- Contact with objects and equipment caused 15% of worker fatalities.
- Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 15% of fatalities.
- Violence and injuries caused by people or animals caused 12% of fatalities.
- Exposure to toxic/harmful substances and environments accounted for 10% of fatalities.
Factory Accidents in Beaumont, TX
Industrial workers in factories are at risk every time their employers put profits over safety. Whether this is by hiring inexperienced workers, failing to replace aging equipment, skipping maintenance, or cutting corners when it comes to implementing safety regulations, the results can be disastrous. Our Beaumont factory accident attorneys understand the challenges our clients face after serious injuries or the loss of a loved one. That is why we work to expose wrongdoing by manufacturers and the other large corporations responsible for operating our nation's factories. After a factory injury, you can count on our team to offer helpful insight and guidance.
Any factory worker could be at risk of harm in an industrial accident, including:
- Assembly line workers
- Fabricators
- Maintenance staff
- Handlers
- Production managers
- Welders
- Machinists
- Operators
- Janitorial workers
- Quality control inspectors
The Occupational Safety & Health Act
Signed into law in 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act introduced strict new standards to help create a safe work environment in the industrial setting. This law required specific requirements for educating workers on the safety and health risks of their job. Since this law, the workers of Texas and the rest of the nation have experienced heightened workplace safety standards. However, the law is not always thoroughly enforced, and some companies take advantage of this fact. If you believe that a workplace is unsafe, you should notify your supervisors immediately. If an employer is made aware of a danger and fails to fix it before an injury occurs, they may be liable for whatever injuries that hazard causes.
Laws exist to protect every citizen, and if they are not followed, employers must be held accountable.
What Employers Can Do to Keep Beaumont Industrial Workers Safe
Employers in every industry have a duty to keep their workers safe. This means one thing in an office building and something entirely different in a factory, plant, or refinery. Companies that employ industrial workers should be held to a higher standard. Their failures to comply with state and federal safety standards can have disastrous effects, causing plant explosions, chemical spills, warehouse fires, and other catastrophes that injure or kill innocent workers. Unfortunately, our Beaumont industrial accident attorneys have seen big companies put production over worker safety again and again.
OSHA lists a number of employer responsibilities for providing a safe workplace. These include:
- Making sure workers have safe and well-maintained tools and equipment to use.
- Providing a work environment that's free from serious hazards and complies with OSHA standards.
- Using proper codes, signs, and colors to warn workers of potential danger.
- Providing safety training in a language or languages that workers will understand.
- Prominently placing an OSHA poster that lists workers' rights and responsibilities.
- Keeping records of industrial accidents and injuries.
- Establish and update procedures related to safety and health standards so workers can follow them.
Those are just a few of the responsibilities that Beaumont, TX employers have in providing a safe work environment. Employers are responsible for knowing their responsibilities and for taking action if they are not properly upholding OSHA standards. If they do not, they may face fines and legal action.
Prioritizing worker safety creates a better work environment for all industrial employees.
Wrongful Death in an Industrial Accident: Your Rights & Options
When an industrial accident proves fatal, the surviving family may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit against the party (or parties) who are to blame. This may be the owner of a factory or warehouse, the manufacturer of defective or dangerous equipment, or any party whose negligence or wrongdoing caused the death to occur. At Arnold & Itkin, our Beaumont wrongful death lawyers understand that nothing can replace who you've lost, but we also understand that getting answers and seeing justice served can help you find peace of mind. Exposing the wrongdoing that leads to industrial worker deaths can also improve conditions for others in the future, so they don't have to experience the unthinkable.
Compensation for a Beaumont Industrial Accident Claim
When a worker is injured or loses their life in an industrial accident, at-fault parties must be held accountable. This may be an employer, a manufacturer, or other individual or company that did not act with proper care. Plant owners who delay turnarounds, chemical companies that put production over worker safety, and executives who ignore safety standards may be responsible for industrial accidents that cause catastrophic injuries or cost workers their lives. They should be the ones to pay for a worker's treatment and losses.
A verdict or settlement for a Beaumont industrial injury case may cover:
- A worker's lost wages, including loss of future earnings if they are unable to work.
- All medical treatment, including ongoing care, therapy, medication, medical supplies, and more.
- Emotional trauma, which may include loss of enjoyment of life, pain, and suffering.
- Punitive damages, which punish the defendant for gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
Money does not have the power to turn back time and prevent an industrial accident from happening, but it can help a survivor or a victim's family put the pieces back together and face a more stable future.
Results Obtained for Industrial Workers in Beaumont, Texas & Nationwide
Our Beaumont industrial accident lawyers seek justice in the wake of tragedies that could have been prevented. In 2013, the William Olefins refinery in Geismar, Louisiana exploded. The blast left destruction and heartache behind for the citizens of Geismar as 2 lives were lost—and 167 others were injured. When our industrial accident lawyers investigated the incident, we discovered an alarming pattern of negligence on the part of the employer. The explosion was determined to have been caused by a poorly designed valve system on a reboiler. Though it was installed years before the explosion, it presented a constant risk in the presence of the right set of events.
Our plant accident attorneys were able to reveal that William Olefins (and others) ignored warnings that the system was unsafe. Their negligence virtually ensured that the reboiler would eventually explode. Despite being resisted at every step of the way by the energy company, we proved our case and were able to achieve two large settlements for the workers of the plant. In total, workers were awarded $33.95 million in damages, allowing them to achieve the financial stability needed to rebuild their lives.
Our Beaumont Industrial Injury Lawyers Are Ready to Help You Recover
The Beaumont industrial accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin have an established history of victories that sets us apart as one of the most successful law firms in the nation. Our firm has been instrumental in investigating some of the worst industrial disasters in recent history, from the 2005 Texas City refinery explosion to the 2014 Corrigan factory explosion. Using this experience, we build the strongest possible cases on behalf of our clients while they focus on healing and recovering. Our attorneys have frequently avoided trials by pursuing successful settlements. However, we will refuse to settle for less than what is deserved, and we will always pursue litigation if we believe it will benefit our clients. No case is too complicated and no company is too powerful for us to challenge.
After a factory injury or any industrial accident, call (888) 493-1629 for a free consultation with our Beaumont industrial accident lawyers. If we take your case, you pay no upfront costs and owe us nothing unless we win.
