Welding Accidents

Welders serve a critical role in almost every industry in New York — especially on building construction sites – and face a serious risk of injury every day. While it may be one of the most regulated areas of the construction industry, welding accidents injure over 500,000 workers in the United States each year – leading to severe burns, eye injuries or even death.

When welding regulations are not followed, and injury occurs as a result, the worker may be entitled to compensation through a construction accident lawsuit against the owner or general contractor.

For a free consultation to discuss your claim with an experienced welding accident lawyer call 212-268-3222.

Welding Jobs Among Most Dangerous in New York

The skilled men and women who do this type work are often exposed to any number of hazards, the most common of which is contact with very hot materials and exposure to intense light generated by the cutting tool that is used to melt and fuse pieces of metal together.

Recent efforts by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have put many safety regulations in place to protect workers from on-the-job injuries to avoid these construction accident cases; such as requiring welders, solderers, and brazers to wear safety shoes, and masks with protective lenses designed to prevent burns and injuries to the eye, and blindness.

OSHA also requires welders to work in properly ventilated rooms and areas to minimize inhalation of gases and particulates that can result from welding processes.

Unlike automated welding environments, such as automobile manufacturing plants where assembly line workers are not exposed to as many dangers, welders on construction sites rarely, if ever, use automated machines and are sometimes required to work in confined areas where special precautions must be taken by the building owner, contractor, or builder to prevent injuries to workers.

Common Causes of Welding Accidents

Confined Spaces
At times a job calls for welders and cutters on construction sites to work outdoors, often in inclement weather, or on a scaffold or platform high off the ground. Welders are also very often required to lift heavy objects and work in a variety of awkward positions while bending, stooping, or standing to perform work overhead. Confined spaces can increase the risk of an eye injury, hearing injury, or burn injury as well as exposure to dangerous fumes and gases.

Welder Fatigue
Fatigue can also be a factor that causes an injury, especially when double shifts and multiple shifts are required. While many welders, solderers, and brazers work a 40-hour week, overtime is common, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 out of 5 welders works 50 hours per week or more.

Discuss Your Claim With an Experienced New York City Welding Accident Attorney

If you’ve been injured as a result of neglect for workplace safety by a contractor, developer, or on-site third-party vendor, we invite you to contact the New York welding injury law firm of Raphaelson & Levine to discuss your claim 212-268-3222.