Texas Welding Accident Lawyers
Welders are a vital part of the economy in Texas, particularly at refineries and on construction sites, yet they face an unconscionably high risk of injury in their daily work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 500,000 workers are injured in welding accidents across the country every year. Whether you are outside using MMA welding or indoors with a GMAW welding system, the process of fusing two pieces of metal together with extreme, radioactive heat carries severe risk.
Unsafe workplaces, negligent training or equipment handling, or lack of proper, updated, and functioning safety equipment greatly increases the chance of a serious accident to befall a worker. Moreover, worker fatigue from overworking employees, providing insufficient staffing, or failing to give appropriate breaks can contribute to an unfortunate accident.
If you have been injured in a welding accident in Texas, it is essential to contact a seasoned personal injury attorney as soon as possible in order to best evaluate, investigate, and prosecute your possible claims. The attorneys at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices in Beaumont have experience handling a wide variety of personal injury matters including construction accidents, refinery and other workplace accidents, negligent maintenance, and other dangerous workplace conditions that lead to welding accidents.
Risks of serious and fatal welding injures
Welding presents a risk of a variety of serious injuries, many of which are fatal. Common welding injuries include:
- Severe burns
- Electrical shock
- “Welder’s flash” blindness or diminished vision
- Toxic chemical exposure
- Radiation poisoning
- Loss of limb
- Disfigurement
Welding presents more than the most obvious risk of burning a body part with flame. Welders may be shocked by misplaced or mishandled wires, may be burned by stray sparks due to ineffective safety equipment, or may lose fingers or limbs due to unsafe equipment management or other dangerous workplace conditions.
Arc radiation and welder’s flash
Prolonged welding without proper eye protection may expose welders to unsafe levels of ultraviolet light, which can cause diminished vision or even temporary or permanent blindness. Symptoms of Welder’s Flash, also known as Arc Eye or Flash Burns, include tearing eyes, light sensitivity, constant dryness, or intense burning. In severe cases, arc radiation can actually penetrate the retina and lead to permanent retinal damage including diminished vision, cataracts, ongoing light sensitivity, or blindness. Employers that don’t equip their workplaces with updated safety equipment such as auto-darkening helmets and under-helmet glasses are putting their workers at risk.
Manganese and “Welder’s Parkinson’s” Disease
Manganese is a material found in welding rods, electrodes, and wires. Manganese is also highly toxic and is known to destroy brain cells and cause nerve damage. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a report showing the dangers of manganese exposure. The EPA’s report indicates that manganese poisoning can cause a condition of the nervous system that resembles Parkinson’s disease, in addition to symptoms like ataxia, dementia, anxiety, and a ‘mask-like’ face. Manganese can reduce the brain’s dopamine levels leading to a variety of debilitating conditions including slowed movement, stiffness, short-term memory loss, slurred speech, sleep disorders, and impaired judgment. Unlike Parkinson’s, there are no proven cures for manganism, meaning the damage to the brain is permanent.
Contact Dedicated Texas Welding Accident Lawyer
The attorneys at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices have decades of experience helping people who were hurt as a result of a dangerous worksite condition. If you or a loved one has been injured in a welding accident in Houston or elsewhere in Texas, contact the Gilbert Adams Law Offices today for a free consultation and immediate assistance. We handle personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay any attorneys’ fees until we collect compensation on your behalf.