No employer wants to see a worker with a fatal injury, but when an injury happens, workers are still entitled to some benefits, like workers’ compensation. This compensation is there to help those injured receive treatment for on-the-job injuries, and it can sometimes include payments for family members who are left behind in the case of a death. This recent story from Upper Arlington may catch your attention. According to the news, a worker has been electrocuted and killed while working on a parking garage for some new construction sites.
The Oct. 22 report states that a 55-year-old electrical worker was killed on Oct. 21 after being electrocuted by an electrical panel. Reports show that the worker was in the parking garage at 1600 W. Lane Avenue, which is still under construction. Workers who were also on the scene reported that they heard a loud noise around 10 a.m. and went to see what it was. That’s when they found the man touching the electrical panel after suffering an electric shock.
The 55-year-old man was taken to Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center for immediate treatment, but he did pass away from his injuries. According to documents, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed that the worker had died, and investigators were already on the scene that day to determine why the man had come into contact with live electricity or wiring. The site, which is still under construction at this time, is allegedly going to be the home of a hotel, retail stores and apartments.
This worker’s injuries may come as a surprise, especially since safety procedures are usually in place for those who work with electricity. Hopefully, this horrible accident will lead to more safety precautions to prevent injuries in the future. In the future, if you have to deal with the death of a loved one due to an injury at work, it’s wise to make sure the scene is investigated and that you receive the benefits you’re due.
Source:
The Columbus Dispatch, “Worker electrocuted at Upper Arlington construction site” Allison Manning, Oct. 22, 2013