The aviation industry’s rapid recovery from the pandemic has caused a troubling rise in workplace injuries among ground handlers, exposing significant safety issues. As reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), workers are being injured and killed at an alarming rate, largely due to understaffing, inadequate training, and malfunctioning equipment.
One such worker, Courtney Edwards, a 34-year-old mother of three, lost her life at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama after she walked too close to one of the engines and got pulled up into it. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined that inadequate training and safety protocols played a significant role in her death, resulting in a $15,625 fine for her employer, Piedmont Airlines.
Notably, OSHA also found that many of Edwards’s coworkers lacked basic safety knowledge, such as the correct distance to stand from an active engine. While Piedmont Airlines disputes the penalty, her union stepped up, raising $125,000 to support her children—a stark contrast to the modest fine imposed on her employer.
Edwards’s tragic story highlights the daily dangers ground workers face in an industry where operational demands often overshadow safety.
Airline workplace accidents are on the rise
According to the WSJ, as airlines resumed operations after the pandemic, understaffed and undertrained ground crews struggled to keep up. OSHA data reveals a 17% increase in workplace injuries in the aviation sector since 2019, with even steeper rises at companies like Southwest Airlines and dnata (Dubai National Air Travel Agency).
Workers report injuries ranging from crushed limbs to serious fall-related injuries like head and back injuries caused by faulty equipment, with inadequate safety training and outdated machinery cited as significant factors.
Low pay, high turnover, and inadequate training undoubtedly exacerbate risks for ground workers. Many start with minimal hands-on experience and often enter dangerous situations unprepared. Ernest Tanga, a Washington Dulles International Airport worker, explained:
“What we’ve been taught doesn’t match what is being done on the field. You don’t want to be blamed for delaying the plane, so you work at a speed that could make you hurt yourself.”
OSHA complaints describe faulty equipment, rushed procedures, and insufficient oversight, leaving workers vulnerable to severe injuries or fatalities under immense time pressure.
What’s being done to protect airline workers?
Unfortunately, as the WSJ notes, regulatory oversight of ground handling remains minimal compared to the rigorous standards for in-flight safety, placing much of the responsibility on airlines.
While congressional efforts include a proposed mandate for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review ground worker safety and implement hands-on training measures, fatigue, inexperience, and cost-cutting continue to put workers at risk. Without meaningful reforms, unsafe conditions on the tarmac are likely to persist.
What are the most common injuries in the airline industry?
The fast-paced and physically demanding environment in the airline industry poses serious occupational hazards to workers, especially ground handlers, flight attendants, and maintenance crews. Some of the most common injuries faced by airline workers include:
- Amputations and crush injuries. These often result from contact with moving parts of aircraft, conveyors, baggage handling systems, or other heavy machinery. Lack of proper training, malfunctioning equipment, or failure to follow safety protocols can lead to these severe incidents.
- Musculoskeletal injuries. Lifting heavy luggage, repetitive motions, and awkward postures often cause back strain, shoulder injuries, and repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Slip and fall injuries. Wet surfaces, uneven ground, and cluttered workspaces can lead to falls that result in partial or complete paralysis, fractures, or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These incidents are especially common on ramps or around aircraft where space is limited.
- Hearing loss. Prolonged exposure to the high noise levels from aircraft engines and ground support equipment can lead to occupational hearing damage if workers are not properly protected.
- Burns and electrical injuries. These can occur during maintenance tasks involving faulty wiring, exposure to heated surfaces, or chemical burns from fuel and cleaning agents.
- Injuries from hazardous substances. Handling jet fuel, deicing chemicals, or cleaning agents without proper protective equipment can result in respiratory issues, skin irritations, or more serious long-term health effects like occupational cancer.
Ensuring the safety and health of airline employees requires proactive measures and is vital to reducing injury rates and fostering a safer workplace for all airline professionals. Sadly, some airlines still don’t offer the training workers need to protect themselves in this dangerous environment.
What are the death benefits for workers’ comp in Georgia?
In Georgia, workers’ compensation offers benefits to airline workers who are injured or killed in a work-related accident, including medical benefits, wage replacement benefits, and death benefits. To obtain death benefits, a dependent family member must submit a claim within 1 year of their loved one’s death.
Here are some key details about Georgia’s death benefits under workers’ comp:
- Weekly income benefits. Dependents of the deceased worker are entitled to receive weekly compensation, typically equal to two-thirds, or 66%, of the deceased’s average weekly wage. This benefit is subject to a maximum cap, which changes annually and is currently set at $800 per week for deaths on or after July 1, 2023.
- Medical expenses. Workers’ comp should also cover any medical costs related to the work injury or illness leading to the worker’s death.
- Duration of benefits. These benefits end when the surviving spouse turns 65 or receives 400 weeks of benefits (whichever is greater) or remarries. For dependent children, benefits typically stop at age 18. If they are full-time students, benefits end at age 22. Disabled children may receive extended benefits.
- Funeral and burial expenses. The employer must pay for reasonable funeral and burial expenses, up to a maximum of $7,500.
Georgia’s death benefits are designed to ease the financial strain on families who lose a loved one to a workplace incident. However, these benefits are governed by strict rules and limitations, making it essential for surviving family members to seek legal guidance to ensure they receive the compensation they are entitled to.
If you face any issues, contact a local Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney for help with your claim.
Injured working at an airline in Georgia? We can help!
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury or fatality while working in the airline industry in Georgia, reach out to the experienced Atlanta work injury attorneys at Gerber & Holder Workers’ Compensation Attorneys.
With over 75 years of combined experience, we’ve helped countless Georgia workers secure the benefits they need after serious injuries like amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and other life-altering injuries. From filing your workers’ comp claim to negotiating with insurers and appealing denied claims, we handle all the legal complexities so you can focus on your recovery.
Contact Gerber & Holder Workers’ Compensation Attorneys today for a free consultation to learn how we can help you get maximum compensation for your claim.
References
Katz, B. (2023, August 15). More Workers Are Getting Hurt on the Tarmac. “It Was Really Frightening.” WSJ; The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/airport-ground-workers-safety-airlines-c98e3216
