A construction worker was seriously injured in Pasco County last Thursday after a diamond saw blade kicked back and struck him in the face.
According to Pasco County Fire Rescue, the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. October 10 at a construction site in the 8300 block of Old Pasco Road.
The construction worker was reportedly attempting to cut cement with a diamond saw when the blade kicked back into his chest, slicing him in the sternum and neck, all the way up into his jaw.
The worker was airlifted to Bayonet Point Hospital with severe injuries. Officials haven’t released any information regarding his identity.
“The injuries were very serious,” a spokesperson for Pasco Fire Rescue told the press. “He was Bayflighted to Bayonet Point. We were told his co-workers were communicating through hand signals when he left. We are wishing him the best of luck in recovery. We know his injuries were severe.”
Ripa & Associates was identified as the construction company working on the property. It is unclear if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be investigating the incident.
Construction work is among the most dangerous in the U.S. with approximately 150,000 injuries reported every year, according to OSHA. One in 10 construction site accidents lead to worker death, and construction accidents made up 19.5% of all workplace fatalities between 2002 and 2012.
OSHA groups the leading causes of fatalities on construction sites as the ‘fatal four’ accidents. They include:
- Falls – Around a third of all fatal accidents in construction are caused by falls from roofs, scaffolding, or structural steel girders.
- Being struck by an object – Workers getting struck by falling, flying, or swinging objects.
- Electrocution – Fatal electric shocks caused by contact with power lines, energized sources, and extension cords.
- Being caught in/between objects – This group of accidents includes being caught in machinery or heavy equipment, cave-ins at excavation sites, and being compressed or crushed between sliding, shifting, or rolling objects.
Filing for Workers’ Compensation
Filing a worker’s compensation claim is usually the only path workers injured on the job can take when they want to seek compensation after a workplace accident. In cases like this, it is important to hire a construction accident attorney who can analyze the circumstances of a case and explain all the legal options available.
Florida law requires all contractors and subcontractors to have adequate workers’ compensation insurance, but it isn’t uncommon for business owners looking to cut costs to avoid providing employees with coverage.
An attorney will pressure a victim’s employer and their insurance company to file a petition for benefits with workers’ compensation court. After the petition is filed, an injured worker can then receive their entitled benefits, which can include medical care, income replacement, disability benefits, and death benefits.
South Florida Workers’ Comp Attorney
If you or your loved one was injured at a construction site, then you should hire an attorney. Contact the offices of Brian Silber, PA, and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced workers’ compensation attorneys.