Workers in the greater Boston area will be interested to hear of a lawsuit against a corporation in Massachusetts that makes safety equipment. The case recently went to federal court and was filed by a man who suffered a 60-foot ladder fall while repairing a wind turbine in Wisconsin. The defendants in the case are Tractel LTD of Toronto, Tractel Group of Germany and Tractel Inc. of Massachusetts.

According to the lawsuit, the man suffered serious and permanent injuries as a result of the fall, which occurred when he was employed by Clipper Windpower Inc. He was inside the wind turbine and using a Tractel safety lanyard when the accident happened. The court documents say the worker tried to descend the ladder that was attached to the inside of the windmill tower, but he slipped and fell about 60 feet.

The lawsuit points out that, when a worker ascends or descends a ladder in a wind turbine, the clips on the Tractel-made lanyard are supposed to be linked to a harness and a cable sleeve, functioning as a break to stop a worker if he or she falls. The man who was injured in the accident says that he used the safety equipment as he had been trained.

Incidentally, the man's employer is not a defendant in the case.

He claims the company that made the safety equipment is guilty of negligence resulting in damages. Those damages include the man's medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, permanent inability to earn future income, and permanent disfigurement and scarring.

Massachusetts workers who have suffered injuries as a result of ladder falls, slip-and-falls, scaffolding falls or any other workplace accident may have grounds for a product liability claim. Such a claim involves issues of negligence, breach of warranty, failure to warn, strict liability and consumer protection violations. Workers who have been injured by a defective product would do well to explore all of their legal options in pursuit of compensation for any injuries suffered.

Source: globegazette.com, "Federal lawsuit filed in Winnebago County wind turbine accident," Mary Pieper, Jan. 11, 2012