After Catastrophic Fall, The Fight Of One Worker's Life

[mahatmakanejeeves]

After Catastrophic Fall, The Fight Of One Worker's Life

By Jay Root Texas Tribune • Jul 1, 2014

....
The story of Arias’ plunge from an industrial warehouse roof on Oct. 18, 2006 is based on interviews with eyewitnesses and lawyers, court documents and Arias’ own recollections.

An expert hired by Arias’ lawyers in his negligence suit against the contractor described the work conditions on the job site where he fell as perhaps “the most hazardous” he’d seen in 40 years of engineering practice, according to trial testimony. ... The contractor who hired Arias has denied any responsibility for accidents that happened on his job sites and said that workers on his sites were responsible for their personal safety equipment.

But safety experts and advocates for injured workers say the scenario Arias’ case presents is hardly unique: An unskilled laborer, often without valid work papers, gets injured doing a dangerous and dirty job. The contractor may have a history of workplace accidents and working under various company names. There is no state-provided workers' compensation insurance or private equivalent because, unlike every other state, Texas doesn’t require it. Taxpayers and charities end up paying for most of the worker’s medical care. The worker and his or her family see their income and quality of life decimated.

But for the contractor, business continues as usual, and another eager laborer, often an undocumented immigrant, is standing in line to take the injured worker’s place.
....

--by Jay Root with The Texas Tribune

The Texas Tribune provided this story.

[yeoman6987]

1. Without valid work papers????? WTF!

Companies need to be held accountable for hiring workers not having requirements met.