Can a construction worker receive compensation after a welding accident?
Welding is one of the most physically demanding and hazardous jobs in the construction industry. On any given day, welders may work around extreme heat, electrical currents, heavy steel components, toxic fumes, and powerful cutting and grinding tools.
Even experienced welders who follow safety procedures can suffer serious injuries when equipment malfunctions, materials shift unexpectedly, or workplace hazards are overlooked.
Fortunately, most welders injured on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. These benefits may help cover medical treatment, lost wages, and other expenses related to a work injury.
But injured workers must act quickly to protect their rights, and disputes with employers or insurance companies can sometimes make the claims process more difficult than it should be.
How dangerous is it to be a welder?
Welding is one of the more dangerous skilled trades in the U.S. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 48 welders died in workplace accidents in 2020, while another 6,990 suffered nonfatal injuries or illnesses serious enough to require days away from work.
The risks can be even greater for welders working in construction sites, fabrication shops, manufacturing plants, shipyards, refineries, and other industrial job sites where they may be exposed to heavy equipment, confined spaces, and hazardous materials.
What are the hazards of welding?
Welding combines several workplace hazards into a single job where, even with proper safety equipment, a momentary mistake can result in a serious injury.
Some of the most common welding hazards include:
- Flying sparks, slag, and molten metal
- Welding fumes and gases
- Electrical currents and exposed wiring
- Ultraviolet and infrared radiation
- Grinders, cutting wheels, and other power tools
- Flammable materials and fire hazards
- Heavy steel components and fabrication equipment
- Confined workspaces with limited ventilation
- Slippery floors from grinding dust
- Cords, hoses, welding leads, and other trip hazards
- Elevated work areas, including ladders, lifts, and scaffolding
- Outdoor weather conditions, including extreme heat, rain, lightning, high winds, and other environmental hazards
While welding itself presents significant risks, many serious injuries occur while grinding, cutting, preparing, or handling materials before and after the welding process.
Fortunately, taking simple precautions such as maintaining a clean work area, using proper ventilation, wearing protective equipment, and following safety procedures can help reduce many of these hazards.
What are the most common injuries to welders?
Because welders are exposed to so many hazards, the injuries they suffer can range from relatively minor burns to life-changing disabilities. Top injuries and diseases include:
- Burns caused by hot slag, sparks, molten metal, and welding spatter
- Eye injuries caused by flying debris and intense ultraviolet radiation, including UV flash burns (arc eye), retinal damage, and vision loss
- Respiratory illnesses like COPD and occupational asthma caused by long-term exposure to welding fumes and airborne contaminants
- Hearing loss caused by grinders, impact tools, and prolonged workplace noise
- Electrocution from energized equipment or damaged electrical components, which can become even more dangerous when welding equipment is used in wet or rainy conditions
- Amputations, cuts, lacerations, and puncture wounds
- Metal fragments embedded in the skin or eyes
- Crush injuries involving steel materials, fabrication equipment, or falling objects
- Broken bones caused by falls or struck-by accidents
- Back, shoulder, and knee injuries caused by repetitive motion and awkward working positions
- Certain occupational cancers, including lung cancer and skin cancer, linked to years of exposure to welding fumes, metal particles, and ultraviolet radiation
- Nerve damage and chronic pain
- Traumatic brain injuries caused by slip and fall accidents in cluttered work areas
- Heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, particularly for welders working outdoors during the summer months
- Injuries resulting from severe weather, including lightning strikes, falling debris, and storm-related accidents on outdoor job sites
While some of these injuries occur suddenly, others develop gradually after years of exposure to welding hazards, making it more difficult to connect the condition to a worker’s job.
What is the best PPE for welding?
The best personal protective equipment (PPE) for welding depends on the type of welding being performed and the work environment. However, most welders should use a combination of eye, face, respiratory, hearing, hand, and body protection to reduce the risk of serious injuries.
Important welding PPE may include:
- A properly rated welding helmet to protect against sparks, flying debris, and ultraviolet radiation that can cause painful UV flash burns, also known as arc eye or welder’s flash
- Safety glasses worn underneath a welding hood to protect against flying metal fragments, grinding debris, and accidental exposure to UV light
- A respirator or powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) when ventilation alone is not sufficient to control welding fumes and airborne contaminants
- Heavy-duty welding gloves that protect the hands from heat, sharp metal edges, and electrical hazards
- Flame-resistant (FR) clothing, welding jackets, leather sleeves, and welding leathers to help protect against burns caused by sparks, slag, molten metal, and welding spatter
- UV protection for exposed skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen to help reduce the risk of UV-related skin damage when skin cannot be fully covered
- Hearing protection to reduce long-term exposure to grinders, cutting tools, and other loud equipment
- Steel-toe boots that help protect against falling materials, crush injuries, and burns caused by hot slag entering footwear
Unfortunately, some welders face production pressures or workplace cultures that discourage the consistent use of protective equipment because it may feel uncomfortable, slow production, or make certain tasks more difficult.
Over time, those shortcuts often contribute to catastrophic injuries and occupational illnesses that can be fatal.
Injured welders and construction workers have rights
If you were injured in a serious welding accident, you most likely have the ability to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits replace a portion of your lost wages and pay for medical care. Workers’ compensation protects both employers and their injured workers. The no-fault system is meant to be non-adversarial, which simply means no one has to “take the blame” for the accident. As a result, injured workers can receive much-needed benefits faster.
Depending on the cause of their injuries, injured workers may have the right to file a third-party injury lawsuit against another worker or a manufacturer. Also, in the event of fatal welding accidents, the surviving immediate family members have the right to death benefits.
Fortunately, we are here to help. From start to finish, Gerber & Elkins works to ensure our injured clients get the best outcome available for their workers’ compensation claim. We can skillfully negotiate with your employer (and their insurance company) to hold them accountable for treating you fairly and paying what you are owed.
Don’t allow your employer or their insurance company to cause you further stress. Let us take care of every step in the process. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation to get started.
