The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires all construction company owners and contractors nationwide, including here in Missouri, to carry out proper site evaluations and address potentially dangerous areas prior to allowing construction activities to commence. Unfortunately, this requirement is often disregarded. Many preventable workplace accidents have claimed lives of workers and have left many families without a breadwinner.
A mother and four young children in a neighboring state have to cope without a husband and father after a recent wall collapse claimed the worker’s life. OSHA is investigating the accident, which occurred at an assembly plant of Ford. A 45-year-old was part of a contracted crew that was removing a section of concrete wall to make a place for a double door. The wall collapsed as the final cut was made, and it fell on the worker, trapping him underneath. A second worker who tried to help suffered critical injuries.
The worker who was pinned by the concrete wall — approximately 8 by 8 feet — suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. It was not reported whether the section of wall that was being removed was supported to prevent it from collapsing. OSHA investigators will determine whether safety violations caused this work accident.
The Missouri workers’ compensation insurance system provides benefits to assist injured victims of workplace accidents, as well as the dependents of those who lost their lives in such accidents. Benefits claims may be pursued, and compensation typically includes medical expenses and/or end-of-life costs. Furthermore, injured workers — or the dependents of deceased workers — will usually receive compensation for lost income. The financial packages to provide assistance with day-to-day living expenses are based on the injured or deceased worker’s latest income level.
Source: nwitimes.com, “OSHA opens investigation into Chicago Assembly Plant death“, Joseph S. Pete, Jan. 6, 2016