Water Hazards at Work

For people who work near bodies of water, drowning is a potential hazard. Construction workers whose projects are located near lakes or the sea, swimming pool installers, and plumbers are all among the people whose lines of work can put them at risk. By taking precautions near potentially-hazardous bodies of water, employers and their workers can minimize the risk of accidental drowning.

A body of water does not need to be very deep to lead to drowning: only a couple inches of standing water can lead to fatal inhalation. Loss of consciousness near such a shallow body of water can quickly lead to the lungs filling with water. Workers who are at risk of seizure or loss of consciousness should not work alone near bodies of water.

Some workplaces have daycare facilities for the young children of employees. Such young children should be watched very closely, especially near water or other potentially dangerous environments. The children of employees should not be left unmonitored near bodies of water, because the risk of accidental drowning is great with small children.

No body of water should be ignored when safety is a concern. People who have a particularly risk of drowning, such as children or people with seizure disorders, should never be left unattended near bodies of water. An employer who fails to account for these needs may be held accountable.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has been seriously affected by a drowning risk, the experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. can help you. We have used our decades of experience with workers’ compensation cases to help numerous clients win damages for their suffering. To discuss your case with a lawyer, contact us today at 610-667-7511.