Police and a bomb squad were dispatched to the 400 block of N. 53rd after 911 calls reported that a sanitation worker had been injured in an explosion.
What Caused An Explosion In The Back Of A Philadelphia Trash Truck?
After the victim of the explosion was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for treatment, the bomb squad began their investigation. Thankfully, the explosion was the result of a blade in the truck hitting a box that contained an oxygen tank, paint thinner, and other combustible materials that shouldn’t have been disposed of in such a manner. Although authorities are happy that the explosion wasn’t the result of an organized attack, the accident does highlight the serious dangers that sanitation workers face every single day.
Common Accidents That Injure And Kill Sanitation Workers
Sanitation workers don’t just have dirty jobs, they have dangerous jobs. Just a few of the accidents that regularly occur include:
- Explosions: Just like this latest accident, explosions occur n the back of garbage trucks all too often. This is typically caused by materials that shouldn’t be compressed due to the pressure of the container. When an explosion occurs, the trash around it can become projectile missiles and fires can break out.
Poisoning: Exposure to toxic chemicals can cause damage to the skin, eyes, and lungs.- Auto Accidents: Almost everyone has seen a sanitation worker riding around on the side of the garbage truck. This is done to increase the speed at which trash can be collected, but it also puts the worker at risk. Both the driver of the garbage truck and other negligent drivers could cause an accident that would result in serious injuries to those involved.
- Illness Exposure: If not properly disposed of, medical waste can transmit disease, causing a worker to become seriously ill.
- Exposure To Weather: Trash must be collected in all types of weather, including extreme heat and cold. Without the right gear, injuries and illnesses can occur.
- Lifting Injuries: It’s not always obvious how heavy a bag of trash is and back, neck, shoulder, and knee injuries are common in the sanitation industry.
The bottom line is that being a trash collector is dangerous work. In 2018, within the first ten days of the new year, seven sanitation workers were killed on the job and that is sadly a regular occurrence.
Workers’ Compensation – When Can A Sanitation Worker Collect Benefits?
Workers’ compensation exists to help those who have been hurt on the job. The benefits that can be claimed include payments for medical treatments that directly related to the injuries or illness sustained at work and if the injured worker cannot return to work for an extended period of time, a fraction of their lost wages.
Unfortunately, denials are common. Reasons for denials typically include mistakes made on a claim form, an employer dispute, or a lack of sufficient evidence. Once a denial has been issued and appeal can be made, however, the appeals process is even more complicated than the initial claim.
With the right workers’ comp lawyer fighting for coverage, injured workers have a much higher chance of having their initial claim approved or having a denial overturned.
Schuster Law: Decades Of Experience Fighting For Injured Workers
The attorneys at Schuster Law are proud to help injured workers get the benefits that they deserve. In addition to handling your workers’ compensation claims, our legal team will review your case to determine if there are other legal avenues through which our client can recover compensation.
Call today for your free consultation. Keep in mind that workers’ compensation claims must be filed within a specific period of time, as must appeals, so time is of the essence.
