In spite of the change in seasons, there is no shortage of construction and improvements projects that need to be completed. Unfortunately, there is also the ever-present danger of a construction worker suffering a serious or even fatal accident. When these accidents occur, it is likely that Missouri officials will conduct a thorough review in order to prevent similar falls in the future.
Recently, emergency responders were called to a construction site after reports of a fatal incident. According to the preliminary report, a 23-year-old man was working to install iron rebar on the roof of a local dormitory. For reasons that are yet unclear, the man somehow tumbled off of the ninth floor of the building. He died on the scene from his traumatic injuries.
While both the construction company that had subcontracted his employer and the union are conducting their own investigations, the victim’s father is questioning whether there were adequate safety measures in place at the time. It was suggested that the man may have unfastened his safety harness as he boarded the utility elevator to descend to a lower level. The father suspected that the floor of the elevator lacked support, and the man fell through it as he stepped inside of it.
It may take some time for Washington state officials to complete their investigation regarding the death of this construction worker. The victim’s surviving family likely qualify for death benefits from the workers’ compensation benefits program. Missouri employees who suffer a work-related injury may also seek to file a qualifying claim with this program. Workers typically benefit from the guidance of an attorney who successfully files these claims on a regular basis in order to ensure that the injured individual — or the surviving family of a deceased worker — receives all applicable benefits in a timely manner.
Source: komonews.com, “State investigates construction worker’s deadly fall in Seattle”, Joel Moreno, Jan. 3, 2018