What Is the Purpose of Safety Training in the Workplace?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), training and education help employees perform their work more safely. Providing safety training can help workers:

• Gain the skills and knowledge to perform their work safely
• Avoid creating hazards that could result in accidents and injuries
• Gain understanding and awareness of workplace hazards, including how to identify, control, and report hazards
• Receive specialized training when a job involves unique hazards

In addition to reducing accidents, safety training ensures companies meet legal compliance for mandated safety training by OSHA, state agencies, and insurance requirements. Safety training also improves employee confidence by teaching them how to respond in an emergency.

What Are the Benefits of Implementing a Safety Training Program for Your Business?

There are numerous benefits of providing safety training for your employees. Effective safety training reduces the number of workplace injuries. By reducing injuries, you increase productivity because your workforce is healthy and at work.

Safety training can save your company money. Fewer workplace accidents can lower the insurance premiums for workers’ compensation insurance. You may see lower absentee rates and legal costs. Promoting a safe work environment creates a positive work environment that encourages worker retention.

What Is the Link Between Safety Training Programs and Workers’ Compensation in Atlanta & Savannah, GA?

Most Georgia employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for employees. Workers’ compensation provides no-fault insurance coverage for workers injured on the job. An injured worker can receive workers’ comp benefits, including:

• Reasonable and necessary medical treatment
• Loss of income benefits, which equal about 2/3 of the employee’s average weekly wages before the accident
• Vocational rehabilitation to train an employee for a new job if their injury prevents them from returning to their old job
• Permanent disability benefits for employees who sustain a life-long disability

Thousands of workers are injured on the job each year. Developing a safety training program can reduce the number of workers’ comp claims by reducing the number of workplace accidents. Reducing claims can reduce workers’ comp insurance premiums.

State workers’ compensation laws and federal safety regulations may require specific industries to provide safety training. Ensuring your program meets the requirements avoids violations and fines for non-compliance.

Four key elements of safety training include:

• Identifying potential hazards and determining how to deal with the hazards effectively
• Understand the safety standards and regulations for your industry
• Develop and provide effective safety training for all employees
• Document training provided to employees and track the benefits of training

If you choose to use a third party to provide safety training, research the company to ensure it has the qualifications to meet compliance requirements. You should also perform due diligence by checking the company’s reviews and references.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Atlanta & Savannah Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Workplace accidents can result in life-altering injuries. If you were injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. You may also have a third party claim that could provide additional compensation. Call Parsons Law Group to schedule a free consultation with our Atlanta & Savannah workers’ compensation attorneys.

Common Causes of Welding Injuries in Savannah Shipyards

Shipyard workers are exposed to numerous hazards and dangerous conditions on shipyards, including welding injuries. The molten metal, heat, ultraviolet light, and combustible materials create a dangerous work environment.

Common causes of welding injuries in the shipbuilding industry include:

• Burns from the ultraviolet radiation emitted during welding can burn exposed skin
• Gas and metal fume toxicity can irritate the eyes, throat, and nose. Long-term exposure could damage the nervous system, liver, and lungs. It can also increase the risk of some types of cancer.
• Electric shock when a welder touches two metal objects with voltage between them.
• Injuries from fires and explosions caused by welding accidents, including igniting flammable substances.
• Welder’s Flash or Arc Eye injuries (i.e., photokeratitis) from the intense flash of ultraviolet radiation from a welder’s torch.

Beyond the immediate injuries caused by welding accidents, welders often suffer from long-term impairments and harm. Welders who suffer from severe burns may have significant disfigurement and nerve damage. A shipyard welder may also sustain noise-induced hearing impairment.

Eye injuries from welding could result in permanent vision loss or blindness. Exposure to toxic fumes and gasses while welding can increase the risk of some types of cancer.

Permanent impairments caused by welding injuries impact your ability to work. Depending on the severity of the welding injuries, a welder may not be able to return to work, or they may be required to take another type of job making less money.

Filing Workers’ Compensation for Welding Injuries in Savannah, GA

Georgia workers’ compensation does not cover welders working in the shipbuilding industry in Savannah. Instead, maritime workers are covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA). The LHWCA covers longshoremen and other workers who do not qualify as seamen for benefits under the Jones Act.

The LHWCA is like workers’ compensation. It provides injured maritime workers benefits, including:

• Reasonable and necessary medical treatment
• Disability income if your injuries prevent you from working, including total permanent disability if you are unable to perform any job duties
• Vocational rehabilitation to help you transition into another type of job if necessary
• Death benefits if a welder dies because of their injuries

Just like state workers’ compensation, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act does not compensate a welder for pain and suffering (non-economic) damages. However, if a third party caused the welding accident, the welder may have a third party claim, which could result in additional compensation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Savannah Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Shipyard workers may sustain severe and life-threatening work injuries. Call Parsons Law Group to schedule a free case evaluation with a Savannah workers’ compensation attorney. We fight to obtain the compensation injured ship workers need and deserve.

Common Causes of Forklift Accidents in Warehouses in Atlanta & Savannah, GA

Forklift accidents happen for many reasons. Common forklift accident causes include:

• Poor workplace design, including narrow aisles, poorly marked routes, and cluttered areas
• Inadequate training for forklift drivers
• Overloading forklifts or improperly secured loads
• Poor maintenance and lack of repairs
• Intoxication or drug use
• Failing to communicate with coworkers
• Inadequate lighting, uneven floors, and slick surfaces
• Lack of safety measures and protocols

Employers and other parties responsible for workplace safety have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent forklift accidents. Precautions include installing rollover protection systems, rearview mirrors, and alerts for backing up.

Heavy equipment accidents like forklift accidents can cause severe injuries. It is crucial workers understand their legal options for recovering benefits and compensation.

Who Is Liable for Injuries Caused by Atlanta & Savannah Forklift Accidents?

One or more parties could be liable for the damages caused by forklift accidents. Potential claims you may file after a forklift accident include:

Workers’ Compensation for Forklift Accidents in Georgia

Workers’ compensation often covers forklift accidents in Georgia warehouses. If your accident occurred while you were performing your work duties, you should be covered by workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation pays no-fault benefits including:

• Reasonable and necessary medical treatment
• Loss of income benefits if you cannot work
• Vocational rehabilitation benefits, if necessary
• Permanent disability if you cannot return to work
• Death benefits for family members whose loved one dies because of a forklift accident

Workers’ compensation does not compensate workers for pain and suffering damages. However, if the forklift driver is partially to blame for the accident, they can recover full benefits. The exception would be if they were intoxicated or intentionally caused the accident. The tradeoff for a no-fault system is that employees generally cannot sue their employers for negligence if they are covered by workers’ compensation.

Third Party Claims for Forklift Accidents in Georgia

Other parties could also be liable for damages caused by forklift accidents. If a third party is negligent, you might be able to pursue a personal injury claim.

For example, if a defective part caused the forklift accident, you might have a product liability claim against the manufacturer. There could be a premises liability claim for unsafe property conditions or a negligence claim if a maintenance facility removed safety features that caused an accident.

A third party claim for forklift accidents can result in economic and non-economic damages. You can receive compensation for all loss of income instead of a portion of your income, as with workers’ compensation. You can also receive compensation for pain and suffering damages.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Atlanta & Savannah Workplace Accident Attorneys

Our experienced forklift accident attorney at Parsons Law Group investigates your workplace accident. We gather evidence proving how your injury occurred. Our legal team pursues all available claims to maximize your recovery for damages. Schedule a consult today.