Atlanta Georgia Legal Blog

Along with airlines, the airports in Atlanta and other cities in Georgia play crucial roles in the health, safety and well-being of the millions of international and domestic travelers. However, the men and women who work as the ground crews face many safety hazards that might not receive enough attention. Airport employers and the private contractors who provide the workers are responsible for the safety and health of these workers.

If you are one of the workers who provide services like wheelchair assistance, cabin cleaning, terminal cleaning and baggage handling, you face many risks of injury and harm to your health every day. However, every one of the hazardous conditions you face is preventable, and you have the right to report violations of the Occupational Safety and Health regulations.

Every job comes with some amount of risk to a person's health and safety. Even if you work at a desk in a climate-controlled office, you could still suffer conditions like carpal tunnel or back pain.

That said, some jobs are far more dangerous than others are. They can put workers' lives in danger on a regular basis. If you work in these occupations, which we discuss below, knowing the basics of workers' compensation benefits can be especially important.

Commercial truck drivers are responsible for ensuring that Georgia stores have all the merchandise sought by consumers. However, few people realize that the risks faced by big-rig drivers make their jobs one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. If you are a tractor-trailer operator, the long hours of sitting in the driver's seat, lack of exercise, poor diet and other aspects will make you vulnerable to injuries and illness.

Although road accidents might seem the most significant hazard that your job as a commercial truck driver might pose, a substantial percentage of workers' compensation claims involve sprains, strains and other musculoskeletal disorders. Safety authorities say about half of truckers' nonfatal injuries likely involve their duties to unload the cargo they transport without help.

The paper and pulp industry is one of the oldest in North America, and we have one of the largest paper mills in the world right here in Georgia. Thousands of people work there to produce millions of tons of paper for magazines, books, newspapers and other products every year. If you work in a paper mill, you likely know the work can be exceptionally hazardous.

You are at risk of being crushed or struck by massive weights of rolling, falling and sliding loads of pulpwood, and the list of hazards posed by industrial equipment is endless -- particularly machines without the necessary safeguards. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, other dangers include being burned and being poisoned. You can stay safe by becoming familiar with potential risks.

Bridges and roads are an essential part of moving goods, people and material around in Georgia and the rest of the country. People rely on the roads and are at their mercy. If a person is injured by an unsafe bridge or road what happens?

That question can be answered, in part, by the collapse of the I-85 bridge at the end of March. Federal Authorities determined the incident, which resulted from a blazing inferno, is the fault of the Georgia Department of Transportation. The state stored a large amount of combustible construction material under the bridge.