Colorado workers leave their families to go to work with the expectation of going home to them at the end of the workday. Sometimes, however, workplace accidents prevent that from happening. For example, a father, grandfather and friend is being mourned by his community. Recently, he suffered injuries in an on-the-job accident. Despite receiving medical treatment, he succumbed to those injuries.
The victim was a maintenance worker who could reportedly fix anything. He was at work installing light fixtures when the accident occurred. He stood on an aerial platform suspended between 20 and 30 feet off the ground when a piece of equipment struck the platform. The impact caused the man to fall off the platform. Someone who worked with him for years knew him to be meticulous about using safety equipment and now questions what could have caused the victim to fall.
The Georgia man was taken to an area hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he died the day after the accident. The coroner is awaiting test results in order to finalize the autopsy. In the meantime, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was called in to conduct an investigation into the incident.
The victim’s family is not only grieving his loss but may also be wondering how they will manage without his income. This is the same concern many Colorado families experience when they lose a loved one to a workplace accident. The costs associated with medical treatment prior to death, burial and funeral costs and other financial losses can be of great concern to a grieving family. Fortunately, workers’ compensation benefits may be available to cover these costs, plus a compensation package for the income the family lost.
Source: wrdw.com, “UPDATE: OSHA investigating workplace accident that killed Barnwell man”, Laura Warren, Jan. 22, 2015
