Expanding Indiana Automotive Industry Must Not Forget the Safety of Our Auto Workers
Indiana’s automotive industry is an intrinsic part of our state culture as well as a critical component of our state economy. Over the next few months, a global spotlight will shine upon Hoosier dedication to automobile and motor vehicle manufacturing as efforts continue to expand automotive manufacturing in the state. Consider the following:
1. Indiana Governor Visits Europe to Promote Automotive Industrial Ties
This month, Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb is taking his team on a promotional trip to Europe. They will visit Monaco, Sweden, and the United Kingdom not only to strengthen current economic ties but to encourage even more overseas industrial investment in the Hoosier State.
A significant part of the governor’s trip will be dedicated to our local automotive industry, pointedly ending with Governor Holcomb and his entourage attending the Formula E World Championship Race in Monaco. Read, “Gov. Holcomb leads trip to Europe to highlight Indiana’s global economy,” written by Trey Bates and published by WBIW on April 16, 2022.
2. Indiana, Andretti Autosport, and Avalanche Andretti Formula E
Governor Holcomb’s trip dovetails with an announcement earlier this month by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (“IEDC”) of a new partnership between the IEDC and Avalanche Andretti Formula E, where Indiana is already the United States headquarters for Andretti Autosport. More will be revealed at the first annual Indiana Global Economic Summit, scheduled to coincide with the world-renown 106th Indianapolis 500.
From Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers:
“The partnership with Avalanche Andretti Formula E amplifies Indiana’s leadership at the intersection of the battery technology, automotive manufacturing, and racing. This initiative fits squarely within our commitment to invest in solutions for the future of mobility and positions Indiana as a global leader in sustainable technology.”
3. 2022 Indiana State Fair Celebrating Indiana’s Automotive Excellence
Boosting Indiana’s automotive industry continues through the summer. The State Fair of Indiana will take place July 29 – August 21, 2022. This year’s theme will be “Fun at the Speed of Summer, Celebrating Indiana’s Automotive Excellence.”
From the State Fair’s news release:
Indiana’s rich automotive tradition is a signature source of pride for Hoosiers, and the Indiana State Fair looks forward to celebrating Indiana’s worldwide recognition for its automotive history and contributions to the industry. Fairgoers can expect to see iconic, celebrity cars from movies and books, in addition to world-class classic car collections showcasing Indiana-made vehicles, and so much more.
Remembering the Need to Focus on Safety in the Automotive Industry
Honoring the state’s traditions and its contributions to the global automotive industry and what Secretary of Commerce Chambers calls the “future of mobility” is to be applauded. From celebrating traditions at the State Fair, to promoting and pursuing even greater economic contributions in its future is a good thing for Indiana.
However, from the perspective of safety agencies as well as advocates for accident victims and their loved ones, these events must be aligned with the need to protect workers in our state’s automotive industry from serious, catastrophic bodily injuries or even death from accidents that occur on the job.
Risks of Serious Accidents for Automotive Industry Workers in Indiana
Workers in an automotive manufacturing facility encounter a variety of work hazards as a daily part of doing their job. The particular dangers faced by automotive workers depend upon a variety of factors, from their location on the job site to the individual tasks they undertake during the performance of their job or craft. Welders, for instance, face specific hazards while working at any automotive facility, while auto workers in a variety of specialties may be harmed from an unattended slippery surface to an exposure to toxic fumes. See, Warner M, Baker SP, Li G, Smith GS. Acute traumatic injuries in automotive manufacturing. Am J Ind Med. 1998 Oct;34(4):351-8. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199810)34:4<351::aid-ajim8>3.0.co;2-v. PMID: 9750941.
The dangers facing local auto workers include the following:
- falls on slippery or hazardous surfaces;
- burns or inhalation of toxic, hazardous chemicals;
- amputations, disfigurement, or blindness from contact with or struck by machinery incidents;
- hearing loss or deafness from site noise; and
- spinal cord injuries or permanent nerve damage from heavy equipment.
For more, read:
- Welder Accidents: The Deadly Dangers of Welding on Industrial Job Sites
- Chemical Accidents: Burns, Inhalation, or Neurological Work Injuries on the Job in Indiana or Illinois
- Amputation Injuries from On-the-Job Work Accidents in Indiana or Illinois
- Lockout Tagout Accidents in Indiana and Illinois: Employer Liability
- Death on the Job: Industrial Accident Fatalities in Illinois and Indiana.
The Duty to Protect Auto Workers from Harm on the Job Site
Any auto worker who suffers physical injuries while on the job in our local automotive industry may have legal claims to pursue under our state’s workers compensation system as well as Indiana personal injury law which will cover a variety of costs and expenses that result from these types of accidents.
Automotive workers in the State of Indiana are wise to consider any injuries that happened at work for the possibility of their employer’s legal liability if the facts substantiate the harm was caused by a breach in an established duty of care and safety designed to protect against worker injuries.
An investigation can reveal not only the right to employee benefits, but the full scope of the worker’s rights and remedies under the law. This can include not only hospital and medical care costs, but rehabilitation needs, lost wages, and more.
In some instances, an expert investigation may reveal personal injury claims to be pursued that are independent of the state workers’ compensation system.
For more, read:
- Job Site Injury in Illinois or Indiana: When Accidents at Work Are Not Worker’s Compensation Claims
- Industrial Accidents in Indiana and Illinois: Serious Injury or Death on the Job
- Fewer Worker Deaths Nationally But Increase in Fatal Work Injuries in Indiana
- Workers Compensation in Indiana and Illinois: Work-Related Injuries and the Fight Against Corporate Greed.
Hoosiers are deservedly proud of our state’s longstanding automotive industry and our automotive workers are to be commended for their contributions. As we celebrate these traditions, including attending the 2022 State Fair and cheering on our favorite drivers in the Indy 500 this year, it is important to remember that if these employers fail in their legal duties of care and safety, there can be tragic results for workers and their families. Please be careful out there!
