Our blog has talked extensively about Colorado workers’ compensation benefits for construction workers and how important it is for construction companies and general contractors to look after their employees’ health and safety. Sometimes, however, these kinds of injuries happen even when there are sufficient safety procedures in place. Construction site accidents can be more than just dangerous to construction workers, however; they can also seriously injure rescue workers.
In a recent incident, both a construction worker and a firefighter were injured. The construction worker was the first to be injured after he fell approximately 20 feet. Then, while other firefighters worked to rescue the construction worker with a bucket, the firefighter collapsed and suffered a head injury.
One witness reported seeing the firefighter fall and strike his head on the ground. Other firefighters rushed to his aid and gave him an IV before putting him in an ambulance. Both the firefighter and the construction worker were taken to the hospital. The construction worker was admitted in critical condition and the firefighter in stable condition.
It is not entirely clear why the construction worker fell, nor why the firefighter collapsed. Although the Colorado workers’ compensation benefits program does not require an individual to prove that someone was responsible, negligent or careless, that information may do much to help a workers’ compensation claim. If a construction injury attorney can show that his or her client’s company was responsible, it may go far to get those important benefits for an injured employee. First, however, it is just important to heal.
Source: CBS Philly, “Worker, Firefighter Injured During Construction Accident In Philadelphia,” Steve Tawa, June 20, 2013
