Now that spring has arrived in the Pittsburgh area, road crews are out in full force doing work that is difficult to do when the landscape is blanketed in snow and ice. With the increase in road workers out and about, unfortunately, the number of accidents involving these workers often increases.

One such work related accident occurred earlier this week as a man was placing reflective tape on a traffic light located on Route 422. He was in the bucket of a lift truck at the route's intersection with Route 388 when the lift truck was hit by a tractor-trailer. The force of the impact of the crash caused the man to be launched from the bucket. He did not fall to the ground however because he was wearing a safety harness.

Though the safety harness undoubtedly prevented the man from falling to the ground and sustaining serious injuries, he did reportedly complain of pain in his back and neck. Accordingly, he was transported to an area hospital. No one else was hurt in the incident and only minor property damage was reported.

This accident clearly could have been much worse. The fact that a safety harness was being used illustrates how taking precautions like this can make a difference in worker safety.

Even though the man's injuries appear to minor, he still may find that he needs some time away from work to recover. Because his injuries were sustained while he was completing a task related to his job, it is possible that he could file for workers' compensation benefits. If his application is approved, he could receive compensation for lost wages as well as assistance in paying medical bills.

Source: Beaver County Times, "Worker knocked off lift truck," Eric Poole, May 10, 2012