March is Workplace Eye Safety Awareness Month in Colorado and throughout the United States.  It’s a good time to learn more about protecting your eyes at work and to practice simple safety habits that can help you keep your vision in its best working order for a long time.

According to researchers at Oregon State University, over 2,000 eye injuries occur at job sites nationwide every day.  About 200 of these injuries, or one in ten, force a worker to miss one or more days on the job in order to recover from the damage.  Ten to twenty percent of all workers who suffer on the job eye injuries will experience temporary or permanent vision loss in at least one eye.

It is true that many work-related eye injuries occur in construction, manufacturing, and trade jobs, where chemical exposure, flying objects, and small particles are common.  However, nearly 40 percent of workplace eye injuries take place in offices, healthcare settings, laboratories, and other environments where workers may not be expecting such harm to occur.

Staying aware of the risks in your workplace and taking steps to reduce them or to protect yourself and others can help you avoid eye injuries, staying healthy and productive in the workplace.  If you’re injured by a defective product or other negligent situation, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced Colorado Springs on-the-job injury attorney to learn more about your options.

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Heat illnesses are often caused when a person becomes dehydrated or overheated, typically due to environmental factors or overexertion, which then interferes with the human body’s ability to regulate its core temperature and cool down.

Outdoor workers are particularly at risk during the summer, but even workers that are indoors are susceptible to the dangers of exposure to extreme heat.

Employers are responsible, not only for ensuring that workers have a healthy and safe work environment, but also for providing training to help prevent on-the-job accidents or injuries from happening in the first place.

The best method for preventing heat illness is simply taking frequent breaks, drinking plenty of water, and spending as much time as possible in the shade.

If you have suffered a heat-related illness, it is important to understand that, under the Worker’s Compensation Act of Colorado, you are entitled to certain benefits that will help compensate for lost time at work and other financial expenses that may arise due to the illness.

If you or a loved one were injured while on the job as the result of employer negligence or the reckless actions of another worker, you may be eligible for monetary reimbursement for your losses in addition to worker’s compensation. Please contact the experienced Colorado Springs injury lawyer Timothy Bussey to discuss your circumstances and legal options in a free consultation.

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In 2011, about 4,609 U.S. workers lost their lives in workplace accidents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and nearly 3.0 million more workers were injured. About 75 percent of these injuries and illnesses occurred in service industries, while the remainder took place in industries that produce goods.

In Colorado, the rate of fatal workplace injuries was about 3.9 deaths per 100,000 workers. The rate of death was highest by far in agriculture, fishing, and forestry, followed by mining, transportation, and construction. Although retail and office workplaces saw a relatively low number of deaths compared to other industries, they still averaged about 3.0 deaths per 100,000 workers. Injury rates across all sectors of the workforce in Colorado were even higher.

Workers and their employers can protect themselves from many types of workplace injuries by using proper safety equipment and following safety procedures. When a hidden defect in a workplace tool or machine causes injury or a third party causes harm, however, workers and employers can’t always predict or avoid the danger. In these situations, an experienced Colorado Springs injury attorney can help workers protect their legal rights and secure the compensation they need.

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The fatal CO work accident involved a gas well operated by Encana Corporation, a Canadian energy firm. The workers had just finished drilling the horizontal well and were installing equipment to put the well into production, allowing workers to draw natural gas from it.

According to investigators, the injuries were caused by a sudden release of high pressure in the well, probably resulting from a faulty or defective piece of equipment installed at the scene. The company is investigating the accident to determine the details in the hopes of preventing similar accidents in the future No explosion or fire occurred.

One of the workers, a 60-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries in the accident. Three more workers were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries, which were deemed to be non-life-threatening; the injured workers are expected to recover.

Accidents and injuries at oil and gas sites have come under increased scrutiny nationwide, especially as the rate of injuries and deaths in these workplaces have increased along with increased production. Encana currently owns about 1,100 wells in the Plattesville area, but this accident marked the first death the company has seen among its workers in Colorado.

On-the-job injuries can cause serious harm and may even end your career. If you’ve been injured in the workplace, skilled Colorado personal injury attorney Timothy Bussey and the legal team at at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help. Call us today at (719) 475-2555 for a free case evaluation.

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