February 10, 2012

A propane tank explosion in the town of South Jordan, Utah, has left three workers injured. According to reports from The Salt Lake Tribune, the explosion happened on a work site for the Rocky Mountain Power Company on W. Old Bingham Highway around 10:00 AM.

The three electrical workers were working on a project near the tank when they somehow sparked gas that was leaking from the tank. The explosion caused debris to be thrown hundreds of feet from the sight of the explosion.

One of the workers was severely burned in the accident and was flown to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. An ambulance took another worker to Intermountain Medical Center where he was treated for lacerations and bruises caused by flying debris. The third worker was treated for minor injuries and was released at the scene.

Propane explosions are blamed for more than 6,000 accidental fires in the United States each year, many of which are sparked by leaking tanks.

The Utah fire and burn injury lawyers with Robert Debry and Associates know how dangerous propane explosions can be, so it is vital that you do everything possible to prevent a propane leak. Smelling for the gas is the most common way to detect a leak–gas smells similar to rotten eggs. A gas detector should also be installed in all buildings using propane and a trained technician should inspect your tank regularly.

February 3, 2012

A 50-year-old Salt Lake City, Utah, construction worker was injured this past Monday in an on-the-job accident. According to reports from FOX 13 News, the man was hurt at approximately 11:00 in the morning at the Altaview Concrete gravel pit at 500 South 6800 West in West Valley City, Utah.

A spokesman for the West Valley Fire Department, Fire Chief Bob Fitzgerald, stated that the man was driving a bulldozer along the edge of the gravel pit when he got too close and went over. The bulldozer rolled approximately 40 feet down the hillside before coming to rest at the bottom of the pit. The man was ejected from the machinery and a piece of the equipment landed on top of him.

The man was swiftly airlifted to the University of Utah Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Mining workers, like those at the gravel pit, face some of the most dangerous working conditions there are today. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows that the number of fatal work injuries in the private mining sector rose from 99 in 2009, to 172 in 2010. That is a 74 percent rise in deaths in one year within that particular industry.

The Utah workers’ compensation attorneys with Robert Debry & Associates work hard to fight for the rights of accident victims who suffer from on the job injuries. If you have been injured, contact an experienced attorney today.

July 8, 2011

A new workers’ compensation law aimed at protecting the rights of small businesses, such as construction companies, has been passed by Utah lawmakers. The legislation has many business owners throughout the state excited about the opportunities it may create to allow business to thrive.

According to KSL News, the piece of legislation better defines the role of owner and employee within a limited liability company (LLC). It ensures that said companies carry proper workers’ compensation insurance in case an employee is injured on the job, and that the company pays unemployment insurance premiums to protect workers if their job is lost.

Critics say the law offers these small businesses loopholes around state income tax and insurance premiums, but in actuality, the new law actually tightens certain points concerning these payments. In order to be listed as the owner of a company, one must be in an active management role and also hold at least an eight percent share in the company.

Lawmakers and business owners from other states have contacted Utah senators who crafted the bill in hopes of mirroring the legislation in their own states.

Utah Workers’ Compensation Attorneys with Robert DeBry & Associates understand the dangers faced by workers in many industries, including small businesses like construction firms. Their lawyers have experience in all of the different types of workers’ compensation cases that may be filed in the state of Utah. This wealth of experience and knowledge is highlighted in some of their responses to frequently asked questions.