Fatal roofing accidents often leave behind grieving families
Workers’ compensation is important for injured Arizona employees and their families to help with lost wages and medical expenses during the recovery period after a worker has been injured on the job. What about grieving families whose loved ones were killed in workplace accidents, though? Thankfully, for employees who work in relatively more dangerous careers and are at risk for factory, construction or roofing accidents, or the like, workers’ compensation offers benefits for surviving family members as well.
Currently, in another state, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating just such a fatal workplace accident. A worker accidentally fell from the roof of a building early on a recent Wednesday afternoon. When a coworker discovered the injured man lying on the ground, he initially attempted first aid before calling emergency services.
The injured worker was rushed to the hospital but, sadly, was pronounced dead at about 1:30 p.m., according to reports. An autopsy the next day did find that his death was due to the multiple injuries resulting from a fall from height. According to an OSHA spokesperson, it appears the worker had fallen a distance of approximately 35 feet while performing roof repairs.
Current OSHA reports indicate no evidence of fall protection at the worksite, so the company may potentially face citations and penalties. OSHA fines, however, do little for the grieving family of the deceased worker. Thankfully, in similar cases where an Arizona employee is fatally injured in construction or roofing accidents or the like, workers’ compensation benefits can help the surviving family with issues like lost wages and funeral expenses. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can provide support throughout the process and fight for the maximum amount of benefits, allowing the family time to mourn without worrying about financial stress.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, “OSHA investigating roofer’s fatal fall from building in Ashburn“, Luke Wilusz, Sep. 7, 2017
Content retrieved from: https://www.jeromegibsonlawfirm.com/blog/2017/09/fatal-roofing-accidents-often-leave-behind-grieving-families/.