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New York City Welding Accident Lawyers

NYC Injury Attorneys Representing the Rights of Construction Workers Injured in Welding Accidents

Welding is a dangerous activity which is nevertheless unavoidable on construction job sites. New York has attempted to limit the number of injuries by passing extensive regulations, but hundreds of workers are injured each year while welding and they often need to miss work for an extended period of time and are left to deal with long-term complications.

After an accident, you need the help of an experienced construction accident lawyer in Brooklyn. Our attorneys have the experience it takes to identify all sources of compensation and will get you the full and fair value of your claim.

How Welding Accidents Occur

At its most basic, welding involves joining materials, in particular metals, using high heat from a blowtorch. Many things can go wrong:

  • The blowtorch or compressed gas cylinder can malfunction, causing burns and other injuries.
  • The safety equipment a welder uses could be defective. For example, welders should wear gloves and have face shields. If this equipment doesn’t work as expected, a worker will be exposed.
  • Materials intended to be welded together could melt or catch on fire, which injures the welder.

Whenever there is a welding accident, bystanders can also be hurt, especially if they are not wearing safety equipment.

Welding accidents can be traced back to many causes, including user negligence, defective or hazardous products, and negligent actions on the part of the project manager. Each welding accident is unique and should be closely examined by a Brooklyn construction accident lawyer.

Welding Regulations

To minimize welding accidents, federal and state regulators have passed detailed rules that job sites must follow. Some of the more relevant rules can be found in the New York State Department of Labor Codes , such as:

  • Section 23-1.25(a). This section lays out regulations for the safe storage and use of compressed gas cylinders. For example, while in use, cylinders must be kept at least 6 feet from flammable materials. They must also be placed so they are not at risk of being knocked over.
  • Section 23-1.25(b). This section regulates hoses and hose connections. A hose must be able to withstand pressure equal to two times the maximum delivery pressure but never less than 300 pounds a square inch.
  • Section 23-1.25(c). This section regulates torches. For example, when welding is stopped for more than 5 minutes, all cylinder valves must be shut.

Safety devices are identified in Industrial Code §23-1.25(d), which requires that welders be provided with approved eye protection that is suitable for welding, along with appropriate protective clothing. This section also requires that bystanders be provided with approved eye protection or opaque screens when arc welding is performed.

Unfortunately, many welders receive only defective or worn out safety equipment. Some equipment used might also meet the requirements of the regulations, leading to preventable injuries.

Welding Accident Claims

Whether you have a claim for your injuries and against whom will depend on many factors, such as the ultimate cause of your injuries and who was negligent. If protective equipment was defective in design or manufacture, you could see the company that manufactured it. There might be other claims you can make.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a New York Construction Accident Lawyer

Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman is one of the oldest injury firms in the city and has recovered more than $800 million on behalf of our clients. If you would like more information, please call 212-285-3300 or complete our contact form.

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