One of the many safety hazards to which construction workers are exposed is elevation equipment such as scissor lifts and forklifts. The risk of using such a vehicle is exacerbated if the operator is not adequately trained or qualified to drive it, and many workers’ compensation claims for death benefits claims follow such safety violations. This danger was underscored recently when a worker died a tragic death at a construction site in Florida.
Reportedly, the man who lost his life at a construction site was a 27-year-old electrician apprentice employed by an electrical contractor. A police report indicates that, shortly after 10 a.m. on a recent Thursday, the worker was on a 14-foot scissor lift platform, which he was navigating through a double door by using a joystick controller. Unfortunately, he was too high to pass through the entranceway safely, and authorities say his head became trapped between the door frame and the lift rail.
Authorities say a co-worker discovered the injured apprentice in an unresponsive condition. Paramedics responded to the abandoned building where the renovation was underway to find the worker had succumbed to critical injuries. Reportedly, compliance inspectors of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have started an investigation concerning this workplace fatality.
Florida families who have to cope with the loss of loved ones in workplace accidents may be entitled to seek financial assistance with the unanticipated expenses of end-of-life arrangements. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help to make the process to claim death benefits less complicated. Along with coverage of the costs of a funeral and burial, the benefits might include a financial package to make up for lost income.
Source: St. Pete, Fla. Patch, “Dunedin Man Killed In Pinellas Park Construction Accident“, Don Johnson, Dec. 28, 2017