Man burned in workplace accident airlifted to burn center

It is fairly common for people who work in potentially dangerous environments to receive information and training regarding those dangers. In most cases, they receive personal protective gear to prevent them from suffering injuries in a workplace accident. Unfortunately, workers in Massachusetts and across the country still suffer injuries despite the safety precautions that are in place. For example, one out-of-state man has recently been burned in an accident at work and was airlifted to a burn center.

The accident happened one morning in January. A 50-year-old employee at Solar Compounds, Inc. was apparently working with, or near, hot, liquid asphalt. Reports indicate that a pump malfunctioned, causing the liquid to splatter the man.

Although he was reportedly wearing protective gear, including safety glasses, gloves and other protective clothing, he suffered serious burns to his hands, face, neck and head. He was transported in a helicopter to receive treatment for his second-degree burns. The accident will likely be investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Because serious accidents, such as this one, can still happen even after safety precautions are taken, Massachusetts state law requires employers to provide workers' compensation insurance benefits for their employees. Such coverage can help an employee with medical bills and lost wages in the event of a workplace accident. These benefits also typically extend to dependent family members in the event of a fatality. Despite being entitled to this compensation, many people have found the process complicated and that help from an experienced workers' compensation attorney can help them navigate through the system.

Source: nj.com, "Man burned in industrial accident, flown to hospital, Linden police say", Katie Lannan, Jan. 21, 2015