July 21, 2020

What Airport Workers Need to Know About COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything the world has ever seen or experienced. This infectious illness is impacting people of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world. Symptoms of this upper respiratory illness include coughing, fever, chills, and loss of breath. People are susceptible to catching this illness in all public places, especially public areas that feature large crowds because this illness is spread from person to person. 

One of the major public areas of concern is the airport. With people traveling from all over the world, the airport acts as a breeding ground for the COVID-19 virus. Airport workers are subject to contracting COVD-19, especially catering, customer service, cargo, and ramp workers. Below is what you need to know COVID-19 as a cargo or baggage handler at the airport.

How Can I Protect Myself From COVID-19 as an Airport Worker?

It would be best if you took all the necessary precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19, including: 

Pay Special Attention to Personal Cleanliness

To avoid contracting COVID-19 be sure to pay special attention to personal cleanliness by making small efforts such as:

  • Wash your hands as much as possible for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
  • Clean hands after blowing your nose/sneezing/coughing
  • Clean hands after removing or putting on your face mask

Other Ways Airport Workers May Protect Themselves From COVID-19

Being proactive is the best way to preserve your health; here are some additional ways to do that as an airport worker:

  • Limit your contact with other people; maintain a 6-foot distance whenever you can
  • Frequently disinfect surfaces
  • Wear proper PPE (personal protective equipment) 
  • Clean cargo, catering, customer service, and ramp equipment and transportation devices, such as radios, often. 
  • Wash your hands after loading or touching packages, bags, and cargo/dispose of gloves you wore to move baggage

Protecting yourself from COVID-19 doesn’t have to be challenging; in fact, it can be straightforward as long as you follow standard guidelines and make it a point to adhere to new ones.

Steps an Employer Should Take to Create a Safe Work Environment

Employers are just as responsible for employee safety. It is up to the employer to provide a safer and clean work environment for employees. Here are some steps that employers should take to create a safe work environment for cargo and baggage employees. 

Make Sure to Provide the Right Sanitation

Employers must provide proper sanitation for employees, this includes:

  • Hand sanitizer
  • Soap and clean water/cleaning stations
  • Disposable disinfectant wipes
  • Tissues
  • Gloves and face masks

Additionally, employers should encourage their employees to wipe down the baggage, cargo, and baggage transportation devices, radios, and vehicles as much as possible and provide employees with a frequently cleaned break room.

Keep Your Employees Informed

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst airport workers is to keep them informed. Employers should make it a point to get employees the right information when it comes to COVID-19 and have a designated person that can answer any questions about it.

Likewise, employers should implement training programs that will teach employees how to sanitize properly. 

Encourage Sick Employees to Stay Home

Employers should encourage sick employees to stay home without being penalized to stop the spread of COVID-19 best. Additionally, employers should implement flexible sick leave and support for employees that end up contracting the COVID-19 virus. 

Employees should not be allowed to return to work until they fit specific criteria and have gotten the proper medical care that they needed.

Stay Up to Date on COVID-19 

If you are a baggage or cargo handler, it will be worthwhile to stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 information. Don’t be afraid to ask your employer questions about COVID-19 guidelines as well as safety and precautionary procedures.

June 26, 2020

Baggage Handler Injuries: How a Few Cents Saved Thousands

About twenty years ago, we met with a man and woman who both had several fingers amputated due to a workplace injury that left them with missing and crushed fingers. These workers were baggage handlers at an airport. After learning about the details of their injuries, our team came to an important realization that would ultimately impact baggage handlers’ lives for the better. 

This realization was that baggage handlers nationwide are at risk of serious, yet preventable injuries when they report to work each day. After talking to multiple people who also sustained the same kind of injury, we began investigating ways to prevent this. What we found was important yet alarming.

Equipment Problems Lead to Amputation Injuries

When we first started this investigation twenty years ago, we found that the way that bags were maneuvered put baggage handlers at serious risk. The design of the mechanisms included pulling a handle on a cart, dropping a pin into an eye; and ultimately, the inertia of pulling the cart would lend itself to crushed fingers and hands. We recognized that it was not the fault of employees but instead the responsibility of the manufacturer’s design.

Losing Fingers is a Common Baggage Handler Injury

Despite years of baggage handlers losing fingers and having their hands crushed at work, no one was talking about it or figuring out why this continued to happen. This was shocking as this sort of workplace injury was impacting employees for the rest of their lives. Losing fingers not only prevented them from returning to work as a baggage handler but also got in the way of them living their lives to the fullest extent. Lastly, it cost the baggage handlers thousands of dollars in medical bills to treat their hand injuries.

If you are a baggage handler and have sustained significant injuries due to unsafe work conditions, you may be entitled to some sort of compensation. Call Schwarz & Schwarz, P.C. at (215) 925-1200 to find out more about the compensation you may be entitled to.

The Equipment Solution

During this time there was no solution to understand how this could be prevented, and there was also no information on how many baggage handlers this happened to. The only way that we were able to identify other people that sustained these kinds of injuries was by word of mouth as this was before the age of the internet. Therefore, this system-wide issue was too hard to quantify, yet still needed to be addressed.

The System-Wide Effect of Unsafe Equipment and Subcontractors 

As we work towards addressing this flaw in the system, we have found that the system-wide effect of unsafe equipment, as well as vendors, is enormous and is an issue that is present throughout the entire country. With that being said, below are some of the significant issues that go arise from this faulty system:

  • Workers Not Returning Home Safely. Employers should always be looking to protect and ensure that their employees come home safely; it’s their obligation to provide the employees with a safe work environment.
  • Increased Lost Time. If employee equipment and conditions are unsafe there is bound to be a vast amount of lost time at work. 
  • Increased Workers’ Compensation Costs. Workers’ compensation costs are skyrocketing. To lower workers’ compensation costs for the companies, unsafe equipment and vendors should be monitored and/or removed.

What’s Next for Baggage Handler Safety?

At Schwarz & Schwarz, P.C., our team of talented and knowledgeable lawyers are working tirelessly to find a solution to the issues listed above. Our goal is to provide baggage handlers with a safe work environment and with the legal support they may need if they were impacted by unsafe work conditions. 

If you have been affected by unsafe work conditions as a baggage handler we may be able to help. Contact Schwarz & Schwarz, P.C. at (215) 925-1200 today to let us know how we can help you.

June 22, 2020

Airline Workers Call For PPE & Stricter Safety Regulations Amid COVID-19

In our fifth month of the pandemic, many employees in workplaces lacking enforced social distancing protocols are still struggling to avoid being infected with the coronavirus or possibly infecting others. Airline workers are among them.

Because an airplane is necessarily a closed environment in flight, pilots, flight attendants, customer service and fleet service agents are exposed to passengers and the airborne bacteria and viruses they bring on board. Baggage handlers work in confined indoor spaces, which also causes a health risk. Considering that many carriers of the coronavirus are asymptomatic and do not know they have it and are spreading it, how can airline workers avoid infecting others, if they themselves are asymptomatic carriers? How can airline workers possibly avoid contagion from others? 

Airline workers are still reporting to work because air travel has been deemed “essential.” These workers have a right to a safe work environment. No one should have to put their life and possibly the lives of their families or others at risk by doing their job. Schwarz & Schwarz represents those who have been critically injured on the job. If you or a loved one have experienced life-altering complications due to contracting COVID-19 at the workplace, give us a call.

Coronavirus Related Deaths of Airline Workers

According to the LA Times, fifteen airline workers died from COVID-19-related illnesses between April 5th and 13th. Because there is no central tracking of causes of airline workers’ deaths, there may be many more since then. 

Airline workers have been reluctant to speak out due to company policy regarding communication with the media. Some workers have claimed that airlines have required workers who think they might have COVID-19 from telling their co-workers.

Shortages of Personal Protection Equipment

Since March, airlines report that they are providing cabin crews with masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and wipes, but airline workers complain that the provision of PPE is inconsistent flight-to-flight. Many have even been forced to bring their own PPE to work in order to protect themselves.

Recently Delta Airlines reported that it is testing every employee for the coronavirus, and instituting mandatory PPE use. In a nod to social distancing protocols, Delta has blocked, and will continue to block, the middle seat from use.

Every airline should do the same, but it may be too little too late for most who have continued to work despite the risk of infection. The only alternative for asymptomatic workers is to take unpaid leave, which is unrealistic for most.

Cabin Crews Fear They Are Spreading Coronavirus 

Feeling forced to fly in order to keep their jobs, cabin crews fear they are spreading the illness like “bees spreading pollen.” As of April 8, at least 100 flight attendants for American Airlines had tested positive for COVID-19, the flight attendants’ union reported. Because symptoms take up to 14 days after infection to arise, untold numbers of passengers and coworkers were put at risk for infection.

PPE and Protocols for Airline Workers Recommended by the CDC

The Center for Disease Control has recommended that cabin crews take the following five steps to minimize contagion:

  1. Regularly And Thoroughly Wash Hands

Using soap and hot water, lather your hands by rubbing them briskly together, then be sure to scrub the backs of the hands, between fingers, and under fingernails. Wash for at least 20 seconds.

  1. Identify Sick And Potentially Infectious Travelers

While taking passengers’ temperature prior to travel has not yet been implemented, there are signs it may be coming. In the meantime, be sure to observe each passenger for the following signs of COVID-19:

  • Fever
  • Skin rash
  • Labored breathing
  • Cough
  • Confusion
  • Bruising or bleeding, not caused by physical injury
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting, not caused by air sickness
  • Headache

Federal law requires that airlines report death or illness on domestic flights and international flights arriving in the U.S. to the CDC. 

If cabin crew suspects a passenger is ill, minimize exposure to that person by:

  • Designating one attendant to interact with him or her; 
  • Providing a plastic bag for disposal of tissues, air sickness bags, and anything else potentially contaminated, and; 
  • Locating the passenger 6 feet from other passengers when possible.
  1. Assume That All Body Fluids Are Infectious And Take Precautions

Any passenger or coworker could be carrying the coronavirus and not know it, because they are asymptomatic. If you are going to be exposed to bodily fluids, take the precautions of frequently washing hands, avoid touching your face, and wear PPE.

If a passenger is persistently coughing, offer them a facemask. If a passenger is bleeding, offer towels or napkins and a bag to put them in when used. If there is more than one bathroom, designate that bathroom for a possible sick passenger’s sole use to protect others.

  1. Wear and Use The Recommended PPE for Covid-19

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 may include any of the following:

  • Facemask
  • Faceshield
  • Disposable Gloves
  • Sanitary wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Biohazard waste bag
  • Sanitary cleanser and disposable applicators
  1. Clean and Disinfect Contaminated Areas

First, the flight crew must properly dispose of contaminated or potentially contaminated items.  Then, they must notify the cleaning crew of areas that need more than a routine cleaning, because of possible contamination by bodily fluids. The bathroom used by the sick passenger should be thoroughly sanitized. All materials used to clean potentially contaminated items or areas must be disposed of as bio-hazardous material.

OSHA Coronavirus Guidance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers guidance on avoiding infection by both blood-borne pathogens and how to clean surfaces after possible contamination.  Every airline should have OSHA-recommended protocols and procedures in place and comply with OSHA’s PPE requirements.

Airline workers are entitled to training in procedures to minimize exposure to the coronavirus,  and to training in response to possible exposure on the job. All training is employer-specific, though should follow CDC guidelines. Airline workers are also entitled to sufficient and effective PPE. 

If your airline does not have procedures in place or has not offered training in how to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, inform your union representative. If you don’t have the recommended PPE on every flight you work, inform your union rep. Our firm has helped unions get the training and protection their members need, and is ready to step in should the airlines fail in their duty to you to protect you from COVID-19.

June 19, 2020

What Aircraft Maintenance Workers Should Know About COVID-19

COVID-19 is unlike anything the world has seen or experienced before. This upper respiratory illness seems to be here to last for the foreseeable future and is forcing businesses to change the way that they operate in efforts to protect employees as well as clients/customers. Businesses all over the world are changing protocol and safety guidelines, from small businesses to larger ones such as airports, employees’ and clients’ safety is being taken extremely seriously.

Perhaps one of the demographics of people that are most at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus at work is aircraft maintenance workers. Because aircraft workers work with large groups of people/in areas that hold large groups of people, they are at a much serious risk. This post will detail precautions that aircraft maintenance workers can take to preserve their overall health and to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus.

If you are an aircraft maintenance employee who contracted the COVID-19 virus, you may be eligible for some financial compensation. Contact the law firm of Schwarz & Schwarz, P.C. at (215) 925-1200 to determine if your work-related injury qualifies you for compensation.

How Can I Protect Myself as an Aircraft Maintenance Worker?

As an aircraft maintenance worker, you should take some essential precautions to keep yourself safe from COVID-19. Because you are in a space that features large crowds, and people from all over the world, not only are you at a high risk of contracting COVID-19, you are also at risk of spreading it. Here is what you need to know when it comes to protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.

Pay Special Attention to Personal Hygiene

Paying attention to personal hygiene is perhaps the best way to protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus as an aircraft maintenance worker. Some ways to take extra care of your hygiene include:

  • Washing your hands regularly with soap and water for about 20 seconds
  • Using hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol
  • Remembering to clean hands after:
    • Removing any PPE (personal protective gear)
    • Putting on/removing your face mask
    • Touching frequently used surfaces such as a table, bathroom, or seat
    • Blowing your nose coughing, sneezing

Take Extra Daily Precautions

In addition to paying attention to your hygiene, there are some other impactful ways that you can protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus as an aircraft maintenance worker, such as: 

  • Be sure to maintain a 6-foot distance from others when possible and limit contact with people
  • Use gloves as much as possible but especially when touching surfaces that may contain contaminated bodily fluids
  • Make it a point to avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose

Additionally, depending on the kind of work you do as an aircraft maintenance worker, you will need to take even further precautions. Below are some recommendations based on your everyday work tasks:

Interior Work

  • Be sure to wear PPE gear such as gloves and a face mask
  • Do not use compressed air/water spray to clean because they may make infectious material airborne
  • Make it a point to review CDC cleaning guidance

Waste Handling

  • Utilize proper PPE such as gloves, mask/face shield, liquid-repellent coveralls, and rubber boots
  • Do not vent aircraft vacuum waste tanks
  • Follow standard guidelines and be sure to clean your hands/body often

Air Filter Replacement 

  • Avoid dropping/hitting the filter
  • Do not use compressed air to clean
  • Dispose of the used filter in a sealed plastic bag
  • Properly wear your PPE

Steps an Employer Should Take to Provide a Safe Work Environment

Your employer should also be taking vast precautions when it comes to creating a safe work environment for all aircraft maintenance employees. Employers should create a health and safety plan that includes things such as:

Detailed Sick Leave

Employees should encourage employees that are sick or are showing early signs of COVID-19 to stay home. Employers should detail criteria that employees will have to meet in order to return to work as well as provide information as to whom he or she should contact if he or she does contract the COVID-19 virus. 

Likewise, employers should create a plan that features flexible sick leave for employees so that employees are not penalized for calling out of work due to COVID-19.  

Up to Date Information to Keep Employees Informed

Keeping employees informed is crucial as an employer. Employers should designate someone responsible for all things having to do with COVID-19, and employees should be able to contact this person easily. Similarly, employers should provide employees with accurate COVID-19 information.

The Proper Sanitation Equipment

This is perhaps the most important thing that employers can do to keep their employees healthy. Employers must make it a point to provide their aircraft maintenance employees with the proper sanitation equipment; this includes:

  • Disposable disinfectant wipes
  • Soap, water, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and cleaning stations
  • Tissues 
  • Proper PPE (personal protective equipment) such as masks, gloves, etc.

Stay Up to Date With the Latest COVID-19 Information For Aircraft Maintenance Workers 

To best stay informed and get the most information possible, talk to your employer and the person responsible for all COVID-19 concerns and questions. Be sure to ask copious questions about things you may not be sure about and things that you think may be able to be improved. Don’t hesitate to speak up if you believe that malpractices are occurring in your area of work in regards to the COVID-19 virus.

If you have addressed malpractices to your employer and were ignored or contacted the COVID-19 virus while working as an aircraft maintenance worker due to your employer’s lack of adherence to guidelines, you may be entitled to some compensation. Contact the law firm of Schwarz & Schwarz, P.C. at (215) 925-1200 to learn more.

August 17, 2017

Lawnmower Safety

Now that summer is here, it’s not uncommon to hear the hum of a lawnmower or smell freshly cut grass. Human error is most often the cause of the approximately 75,000 lawnmower injuries per year that require a visit to the emergency room. But there is a lot you can do to avoid having to make that trip. Here are a number of important safety issues to keep in mind when using a lawn mower.
  • Children younger than 16 years should not operate ride-on mowers.
  • Children younger than 12 years should not operate walk-behind mowers.
  • Spend time showing your child how to operate a lawn mower properly. Supervise until you are sure they can perform the task on their own.
  • Read the operator’s manual. Understand your mower before you use it.
  • Only use a mower with a control that stops operating when the handle is released.
  • Keep guards, shields, switches,and safety devices in proper working order at all times.
  • Let mower cool before refueling.
  • Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes. Steel toed shoes are best.
  • Check ground for objects that may be thrown by the mower. Wear pants to protect legs from objects thrown from the mower.
  • Do not mow in reverse.
  • Do not unclog a jammed mower while engine is running. Only touch bottom of mower when spark plug wire is disconnected.
  • With a ride-on mower, drive up and down slopes to prevent rollover.
  • With a walk-behind mower, travel across the slope to prevent rollback onto your feet.
  • Do not mow wet grass
  • For electric mowers, use a ground fault circuit interrupter to prevent electric shock.
August 17, 2017

Summer Camp: Keepin’ it Safe!

Summer Camp: Keepin’ it Safe! 
Summer camps are a $ 15 -billio n industry, according to the American Camp Association (ACA). With swimming, horseback riding, rockwalls, obstacle courses and other fun physical and arts-related activities, it is easy to see why more than 11 million people attend either a day or overnight camp each year. But along with different types of physical activities and fun, there are many opportunities for campers to get hurt if proper procedures and safeguards are not in place and followed correctly. Many different types of injuries can occur, including brain or spinal cord injuries, transportation accidents, food poisoning, food allergy reactions, drowning and near-drowning, burn s, broken bones, insect stings and more.
Summer camp accidents can also present a number of complex legal issues. Most summer camps require that you sign some type of waiver when you register. These waivers can be enforceable and prevent you from pursuing legal action should you or your child become injured. It is wise to keep a copy of everything you sign, and contact an attorney if you or your child is injured. The attorneys at  Schwarz & Schwarz, P.C. can help you navigate through what can be a very stressful time, and can answer your questions regarding liability and your rights.
Important things to consider when choosing a summer camp:
  • Make sure the camp is ACA-accredited and has no history of problems.
  • Make sure the camp has appropriate safety policies and procedures in place, training for staff (CPR, First Aid, AED), and access to emergency medical assistance.
  • Find out how the staff is screened and if the camp notifies camp families of known issues with any of their staff.
  • Find out how the camp screens visitors.
  • Visually inspect the camp, especially bunks and buildings.
Things to remember to help keep your campers safe:
  • Make sure emergency contact numbers are valid and updated.
  • Make sure both the camp nurse and your camper’s counselor are aware of activity restriction, allergy information, and emergency medications.
  • Make sure your camper is aware of the camp’s rules, safety policies and procedures.
  • Make sure your camper dresses appropriately for the weather and activities.
  • Make sure your camper knows to stay hydrated throughout the day and has access to water.
  • Make sure your camper wears and brings sunscreen, and can self-apply it.
  • Make sure your camper understands what kind of touching and behavior is appropriate and what kind is not.
  • Follow-up with your camper each day (or when they return home). Ask questions!
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