07/30/2009
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) http://www.dol.gov, released startling information revealing a record high of 990 Hispanic laborer deaths in the workplace in 2006, as reported by the USA Today on Tuesday. Furthermore, since 1992 there has been an increase in Hispanic worker fatalities across the country by 76 percent. The Occupational Safety and Health and Administration (OSHA) http://www.osha.gov investigated 50 Hispanic workplace deaths in Texas out of the Dallas office in 2008. Federal officials in Texas have already investigated 21 Hispanic laborer deaths this year including three workers who plunged to their deaths on an Austin construction site in June.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hispanics represented 14 percent of the labor force across the country which is up 4% since 1998. The wrongful death of Hispanic laborers can be contributed to many factors and the exploitation of workers may be one of the top reasons for the increase in accidents, injuries and deaths involving the Hispanic population. Falls from roofs, crush injuries from heavy machinery, run over by trucks, and crane malfunctions on construction sites are all typical scenarios leading to serious injuries and even deaths to Hispanic workers. According to the Workers Defense Project, an Austin based workers’ rights advocacy group, the Texas capital has reported 4 Hispanic worker fatalities this year. OSHA recently pledged to increase the number of federal worksite and safety inspectors in Texas, last month, in response to the increase in construction related deaths, which over half involve Hispanics.
Workers are entitled to proper training, safety equipment and gear, plus a safe working environment while laboring on dangerous construction and demolition sites. When workers are injured or even die because of the negligence of a manager, foreman, supervisor, or owner/contractor the employee and their family may have a personal injury claim in the state of Texas. A Dallas wrongful death attorney and personal injury law firm may help you and your family recover the loss of support, funeral expenses, medical bills and other damages suffered at the negligence of an employer.
Dallas personal injury lawyer Brian Eberstein Amy Witherite litigating Texas construction accident claims.
http://www.dallastexaspersonalinjurylawyers.com/
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