Losing a loved one in a workplace accident is naturally a devastating experience for any Colorado family. Along with the emotional loss, the sudden lack of income can leave a family struggling. Fortunately, death benefits offered through the workers’ compensation insurance fund may relieve the financial burden. A man in another state recently lost his life after a workplace accident at the premises of a glassware manufacturer.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident in which the collapse of a brick ceiling caused the worker’s death. The 52-year-old man was reportedly a masonry worker who was part of a crew rebuilding a tank for glass manufacturing. Two other workers who were also in the tank at the time reportedly escaped injury, but the fatal victim was buried under a load of bricks. Fire fighters tried to rescue him, but he died before they could extricate him.
OSHA records suggest that disregard of safety regulations has long compromised the safety of workers at this company. Among the violations that led to citations and penalties over recent years included a worker losing a finger in 2011 and another suffering burn injuries when his oil-saturated clothing caught fire. These serious violations resulted in the glass manufacturer paying many thousands of dollars in penalties.
Some families in Colorado who experience such sad losses choose to seek the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to pursue death benefits claims for them. The workers’ compensation insurance program typically provides compensation to help with the high costs of a funeral and burial. Furthermore, surviving dependents usually receive financial assistance with day-to-day living expenses in the form of a financial package based on the average weekly wage of the deceased worker.
Source: dispatch.com, “Federal inspectors investigating Anchor Hocking death“, Mary Beth Lane, April 5, 2016
