• 28
  • October
    2011

In early October, a Hannibal man was killed in a New York industrial accident while working at Novelis, Inc., an aluminum rolling plant. The man, a rolling technician, was trapped in a piece of equipment he was operating. He was stabilized at the hospital, but later died from his injuries.

This accident was the second workplace accident in only three months at the plant. It follows a serious on-the-job accident in August, when a man was injured in the plant's remelt area.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the company are currently investigating the August and October accidents. It may be months before we learn of the cause of the New York workplace injuries, as OSHA inspectors must go through extensive discovery to determine if Novelis, Inc., violated any safety regulations or otherwise acted negligently.

Liability for On-the-Job Accidents

After a workplace accident, an injured person and his or her family are left to pick up the pieces. Loss of income from inability to work, mounting medical bills, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and other financial and emotional damages can make it hard to move forward.

Furthermore, pursuing compensation after a workplace accident can be difficult. Who is liable for your injuries? Can you recover compensation above and beyond workers' compensation?

A New York workplace accident attorney can help you answer these questions, whether you have lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident in New York or you are suffering from burns, back injury or another serious injury caused by an on-the-job accident. For example, if someone other than your employer caused your injuries, you may be able to pursue a third-party liability claim against him or her. Depending on the cause of the accident, your company may also face OSHA fines for unsafe equipment or other dangerous work conditions.

Source: Syracuse.com, "Feds Investigating Fatal Oswego Factory Accident, the Second Incident in Three Months at Plant," James T. Mulder, Oct. 6, 2011.