Missouri workers whose jobs entail working on high cell towers are likely aware of the extreme dangers posed by their occupations. If they are employed by a company who disregards safety regulations, their lives may be threatened by potential workplace accidents on a daily basis. After completion of an investigation into a March cell tower collapse, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued several citations to a communications company that is based in Missouri.
OSHA reported that the company was cited for serious safety related violations on two prior occasions. In the March incident, the workers were in the process of dismantling a cell tower when it collapsed and fell onto another tower, causing its collapse as well. The two workers who were on the tower at the time lost their lives in the accident. OSHA revealed that this brings the number of similar deaths this year to 11, while 13 cell phone tower workers died in 2013.
According to the investigation report, the company failed to provide safe equipment for the workers and instead provided equipment that was damaged and of a low standard. In addition, the company failed to utilize appropriate engineering plans that would protect the workers in dangerous situations. It is not uncommon for employers to disregard safety regulations in order to speed up work processes.
The families of the two employees of the Missouri-based cell tower company will now be facing the financial consequences of the loss of their loved ones. They may claim death benefits from the workers’ compensation insurance fund in pursuing recovery of funeral and burial expenses, along with the sudden loss of income. Those who find the claiming process after fatal workplace accidents intimidating may find comfort knowing that the legal process can be handled on their behalf by a workers’ compensation attorney.
Source: pddnet.com, “U.S. Cites Missouri Company in Cell Tower Deaths”, , Sept. 29, 2014