Construction is a dangerous field to work in; people get hurt all the time. With the right safety equipment and processes in place, these accidents should be avoidable, but there are still instances where workers are injured or killed. If you’re hurt because of poor safety standards or workplace violations, it’s important that you’re able to make a claim for compensation, as this man’s family may want to do.
According to the news, the 28-year-old man was working near Heisley Road and Jackson Street when he entered a 4-foot-deep trench. That’s when the trench collapsed on him, trapping him and causing fatal injuries. At the time, he and his coworkers were moving a water line for their company, AquaOhio, which is working with the area to expand the size of the roadway. Because of that, all water lines in the vicinity need to be relocated.
The news reports that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is going to be investigating the scene. The investigators are investigating why the trench would have collapsed on the man and why he was inside it during the workday. The firefighting team that responded to the incident reported that the man had hit his head in the incident. He was rushed to the hospital, but he did not survive his injuries.
In situations like this, OSHA must be present to do an investigation into a worker’s death. If it determines that there was a safety violation or other concerns, the company may be held liable. In the meantime, families of victims like this man can claim for workers’ compensation in most cases.
Source: WKYC, ” UPDATE: One man dead after Mentor construction accident,” March 29, 2016