Houston International Airport (IAH) became George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in 1997. Today, George Bush Airport covers 10,000 acres of land. It offers five runways and serves as Texas’s second-busiest airport, after the Dallas-Fort Worth airport (DFW). It’s also known by its former name, the Houston International Airport.

With direct access to the Hardy Toll Road Expressway, George Bush International Airport provides vital connections between Houston and the rest of the world. Airport workers are equally vital to keeping the airport running safely. When an airport worker is injured on the job, the consequences can be serious.

If you’ve been injured while working at George Bush Airport, don’t wait. Talk to an experienced Houston injury lawyer today. The team at Gustin Law can help. 

Common Worker Injuries at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Airports bustle with activity. From airport security to customer service, baggage handling, aircraft maintenance, and air traffic control, airports are full of workers doing different, demanding jobs – all at once. These workers coordinate in a busy, high-traffic environment. Many work with heavy objects, heavy machinery, or dangerous substances like jet fuel. With so much going on, airport workers can easily be injured.

Airport safety presents complex challenges. Major risks for airport workers include aircraft and vehicle-related dangers, chemical exposure, slip and fall risks, and weather-related hazards. Injuries from repetitive stress or accidents can occur as well.

Aircraft and Vehicle Injuries

Airplanes and other moving vehicles can injure airport workers. Ground crews can suffer crush injuries or become trapped between moving objects. Busy traffic near airports can result in airport workers being hit by cars as they use crosswalks or work in parking areas or loading docks.

Vehicle injuries can also occur when working in, on or near other types of motorized vehicles. Some airport workers routinely work with or near forklifts, scissor lifts, and similar equipment. Without proper training and awareness, injuries and accidents become more likely.

Any aircraft or vehicle-related injury can be serious. Some injuries are deadly. Prompt medical treatment is essential. An experienced attorney can help you protect your legal rights. 

Chemical Exposures

Exposure to chemicals and other harmful substances can occur nearly anywhere in an airport. Runway workers may be exposed to jet fuel, fumes, and dust. Indoors, workers may deal with cleaning supplies, dust, smoke, and more. Chemical burns from some substances can occur as well.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes that not all chemical exposures cause instant, obvious harm. Some build up, causing damage over time. Breathing problems, cancer, and other issues can occur due to regular, low-level exposure to dangerous substances at work.

Whether you can pinpoint the cause of your injuries or suffered harm over time, talk to a knowledgeable attorney. A Houston lawyer familiar with airport work injuries can help. 

Slip and Fall Injuries

Every year, falls cause thousands of workplace injuries nationwide. Slips, trips, and falls appear in the top four causes of workplace injury year after year. Unintentional falls are a leading cause of injury throughout Texas. They’re also a leading cause of death in airport and other work, especially when the fall is from a height.

Airport workers face slip, trip, and fall risks from many hazards. Wet and slippery floors can cause harm. Uneven surfaces, like cracked pavement or broken floor tiles, can cause problems too. Any tripping hazard, like a cord, cable, or tool left in a walkway, might result in injury. Workers can be hurt if they cannot see the walkway ahead or they can’t grab a sturdy handrail when needed. Falls from a height, such as off a scissor lift, can be particularly dangerous. 

In 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration addressed falls extensively in its guidance for airport worker safety. The FAA noted that fall protection is a must. Fall safety is essential whether workers work on the ground or in the air. The agency states that its slip, trip, and fall safety policies apply to “all FAA employees in all FAA workplaces working on all walking and working surfaces.” When fall safety fails in any airport workplace, serious injuries can result. 

Weather-Related Risks

Many airport workers spend part or all of their day outdoors. Everyone who works at George Bush Intercontinental Airport must commute to the building – which means facing the elements for at least part of each day.

Houston’s summers get notoriously hot. Heat illness can be prevented. Every year, however, thousands of US workers suffer injuries from heat exposure at work. At airports, working outdoors on the hot tarmac can increase the risk of heat-related illness. Those who work indoors in food service or hangars without climate control can suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke as well. 

Heat isn’t the only weather-related risk at Houston Airport. Rain, wind, and cold can cause harm too. These weather events can reduce visibility, making a collision more likely. They can lower body temperatures, resulting in hypothermia. Rain and sleet can cause slip and fall hazards. Airport workers face injury risks from weather as well as other sources. 

Musculoskeletal and Repetitive Stress Injuries

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect the muscles. They also affect all the tissues that feed and control the muscles, like nerves, blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments.

Many common actions can cause these injuries. Lifting heavy items, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling, and twisting any body part can increase the risk of an injury.

In an airport, musculoskeletal injury risks are everywhere. Baggage handlers regularly lift heavy loads, for instance, putting them at risk for low back injuries and sprains. Customer service and other desk workers may experience repetitive stress injuries from computer and other work. Custodial staff, food service, and security workers can also experience both one-time and chronic injuries related to their efforts.

Airport Visitors

Many airport workers enjoy helping others. Working with the public, however, can also come with risks. Angry or aggressive travelers and visitors can cause injuries. In some cases, airport workers rushing to the aid of a distressed traveler become injured themselves.

Whether someone else intended to harm you or not, if you’re hurt on the job while working with the public, you have options. Talk to a dedicated Houston airport worker injury lawyer to learn more. 

Workers’ Compensation for Injured George Bush Airport Workers

Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical bills and certain other costs when an employee is injured on the job. Workers’ compensation can also cover work-related illnesses. Benefits cover a portion of an employee’s lost wages if they need time off work to heal. When injuries cause permanent disabilities, long-term benefits can help families meet their daily needs.

Every workers’ compensation claim follows rules set by state law and the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). These rules try to produce results that are similar in similar cases. However, every injury and case is unique. No one else suffered exactly the harm you did, in exactly the same way. The impacts on your life are unique to you. It’s important to speak to an experienced airport injury lawyer to understand what your case is worth. 

Who Can File for Workers’ Compensation Coverage

In Texas, employees can file for workers’ compensation coverage if they suffer a work-related injury or illness. The injury or illness can happen suddenly or occur over time due to exposure to work conditions like repetitive stress or chemical exposure.

Workers’ compensation is limited to employees. Independent contractors cannot file for workers’ compensation coverage. Figuring out whether you are an employee or a contractor isn’t always easy. Most courts use a list of factors, instead of a single rule, to figure out which is which. Some employers will list employees as contractors to avoid paying the costs of workers’ compensation for them. 

You’re more likely to be an employee if your employer offers benefits, dictates when and where you work, and provides the tools and equipment you need for your job. If you’re classified as a contractor but you think you should be an employee, talk to an attorney. An experienced Houston-area airport injury lawyer can help you figure out what happened and fight for benefits.

Sometimes, another person or company causes an airport worker’s injuries. For example, you might be hit by a car while directing traffic in an airport parking lot. A defective tool could explode while a maintenance worker works on an airplane, causing harm. A customer service representative or security guard might be injured if assaulted by an angry traveler.

In these situations, the injured person might have two cases. One case focuses on workers’ compensation. The other seeks to hold the negligent party accountable in a personal injury lawsuit. Workers’ compensation and personal injury cases can affect one another. An experienced lawyer can help you navigate both. 

What to Do If You’re Injured At Work

Always put safety first. Call 911 or have someone else make the call if you need emergency help. If possible, move out of the way of traffic and people, but don’t move a seriously injured person.

For non-emergency situations, tell your employer about your injury or illness as soon as possible. Ask them for a list of doctors covered by their workers’ compensation insurance. See one of these doctors as soon as you can.

As soon as possible, write down or record yourself describing everything you remember about the accident. If you don’t remember something or didn’t see it, it’s okay to say so. These notes will help you keep track of what happened while it’s fresh in your mind. 

A work-related injury or illness tends to come with a lot of paperwork. Save all this paperwork. You may get workers’ compensation forms, notes from doctor’s offices, receipts from the pharmacy, and more. Store this paperwork in a safe place. 

Finally, talk to an experienced attorney. The team at Gustin Law is here to answer your questions after a George Bush Intercontinental Airport workplace accident. To learn more, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.