Construction:
Construction zones are a constant site across the United States. Everything from residential to commercial to highway construction. Unfortunately, construction area accidents are also a constant. Some of the most common accidents involve moving machine parts, hazardous chemical spills, scaffolding collapses, slip and fall from unsafe working conditions and cranes. The resulting injuries are just as wide ranging:

• Broken and/or fractured bones (arm, neck, leg, back)
• Traumatic brain injury
• Quadriplegia
• Paraplegia
• Death

Although construction companies are obligated to meet certain safety requirements, many times the safety engineers or safety programs are negligent or non-existent.

Longshore Injury:
The Longshore Harbor and Workers Compensation Act ("LHWCA") provides benefits similar to workers compensation statute for individuals injured working in a maritime context, not necessarily on a vessel. LHWCA benefits for injury are specifically defined and the procedure for obtaining benefits is similar to a State Workers Compensation statute.

However, there are a few situations where an injured person can submit a claim for benefits above and beyond what the LHWCA provides. These claims can include general damages for pain and suffering, as well as disability.

There are also situations where a claim can be brought against a vessel owner or the owner and the employer.

Offshore Injury:
Even at sea, employers have a duty to provide safe working conditions for their employees. However, working in the offshore environment can be especially dangerous. Due to the nature of the industry, accidents can include the following:

• Helicopter crashes
• Explosions
• Crane accidents
• Sinking ship
• Rigging accidents

Despite the fact that safety measures are implemented and followed to great lengths in offshore operations, injuries can still happen. Limited medical help is usually immediately available, but the distance from mainland and weather can complicate the seriousness of any injury.

Welding Rod Exposure:
Exposure to welding rod fumes may lead to neurological disorders. The toxins contained in welding rod fumes, especially manganese, have been shown to cause a variety of neurological and movement disorders often referred to as Parkinsonism. These include Parkinson's disease, manganese-induced Parkinsonism, manganese poisoning and manganism. Symptoms may include tremors in hands, arms or upper body; reduced facial expression; rigidity in arms, legs or hands; difficulty swallowing; shuffling walk or balance difficulties when walking; loss of memory; loss of desire to talk or slow speech; irregular handwriting; or a feeling of weakness and lethargy.

Welding rods may contain up to 25% manganese. Typically, the rods or electrodes used in Shielded Metal Arc, or "stick" welding, will contain the most manganese. Welding wire used in Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding may also contain a significant level of manganese. Fumes released during the welding process contain manganese.

Epidemiological studies of workers who have worked with manganese welding rods or been exposed to the fumes emitted from these welding rods have provided consistent evidence indicating that neurotoxicity is associated with low-level occupational manganese (Mn) exposure. Manganese has been known since the early nineteenth century to be toxic to workers who inhale Manganese or Mangenese fumes. Clinical research indicates that neurologic dysfunction continues to increase even after removal from the manganese exposure.