Welding Accident Lawyers in Austin
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Welding accidents injure over 500,000 workers every year. Because welding involves fire and extreme heat there are a lot of dangers in welding and these injuries can result in severe burns and even death. Common sources of injuries that result from welding include:
- Extreme heat
- Fires due to sparks, the presence of flammable materials, and ignited fumes
- Fatigue due to overworking, double or multiple shifts
- Lightheadedness from fumes and heat
- Injuries to the eyes
- Tight working quarters between workers
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have regulations pertaining to welding, cutting, and brazing, but when their regulations are not followed injuries often result. Sometimes this is due to worker error, but often it is the fault of the owner or general contractor and their failure to provide defect-free equipment and a safe working environment.
Welding Injuries
Due to the extreme nature of welding, there are a lot of accidents and injuries that occur annually. Most of these injuries are the result of burns, but serious injuries or fatalities can – and do – happen. Unfortunately, not all injuries are immediately evident with some irreversible injuries developing over time while not showing signs of injury until they are too late to treat. Some of the more serious injuries include eye damage from the following:
- Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) – Ultraviolet radiation is created by the electric arc in the welding process. The UV can cause burns and result in damaging effects on the lens of the eye. This damage is referred to as arc-eye and is often an untreatable condition that feels like there is sand in the eye.
- Exposure to infrared radiation (IR) – IR is created by the electric arc from welding and other metalworking equipment. IR heats the surface of the skin and tissues subcutaneously resulting in painful and scarring thermal burns.
- Exposure to intense visible light – When eyes are exposed to intense visible light during the welding process, a number of optical injuries can occur including retinal damage.
Other common welding injuries include:
- Permanent disfigurement
- Scarring
- Eye damage
- Nerve damage
- Dental damage
- 2nd and 3rd degree burns
- Psychological injuries
- Death
Our Attorneys Are Here To Help You
Depending on the severity of your injury, compensation may be awarded for injuries suffered, lost wages and the loss of earning capacity. OSHA requires that work sites are safe and kept free from hazards. To that end, employers are required to inspect all aspects of the work place and address inefficiencies and safety hazards. If you suffered a serious injury, then you may want to enlist the assistance of an attorney to help you document the cause of your injuries, secure your lost wages, obtain payment for medical costs and receive compensation for permanent injuries.
In a serious welding injury case, you want the best representation and there is no substitute for an experienced and knowledgeable legal advocate. The Personal Injury attorneys at Zinda Law Group have decades of experience in construction injury cases that involve both welders and construction workers, and our attorneys promise to work hard for you. Call today to speak with an attorney. Your call is free and the consultation is free. Unless we recover for you, we don’t get paid, so call today. (800) 863-5312
