Workplace injury leads to death of worker in botched demolition

On Behalf of | Jun 23, 2014 | Workplace Accidents

The families of construction workers in Oklahoma are likely concerned about the welfare of their loved ones while they are involved in the demolition of a building. If the employers of the construction workers disregard safety regulations as prescribed by OSHA, the lives of their employees may be endangered. Only by taking steps to safeguard construction workers in all situations can a workplace injury be avoided.

Emergency workers were called to the scene of an out-of-state demolition that went horribly wrong just after midday on a recent Friday. It was reported that the destruction of the building was successful until there was only one wall left to be brought down. The fire chief said that three workers were in the vicinity of the remaining wall when it collapsed. One worker, operating a backhoe, was working along the remaining wall when it came tumbling down. He was treated for shock, but suffered no serious injuries.

Emergency workers arrived on the accident scene within minutes and found one worker buried under rubble. He was already dead upon their arrival. Removing the rubble to extricate the worker’s body apparently took several hours. No other injuries were reported, and the accident is being investigated by OSHA.

While having to cope with the trauma of a loved one’s death, the family may need financial assistance to enable them to cover the funeral and burial costs. Fortunately, the workers’ compensation insurance fund is there to provide such aid to a worker who has suffered a workplace injury, or to the family of a worker in the event of death. Benefits for Oklahoma workers who are eligible for workers’ compensation would normally cover medical and/or end-of-life expenses, along with a portion of lost wages and financial aid for the next of kin of deceased workers.

Source: myfoxphilly.com, “Construction Worker Killed By Partial Building Collapse “, , June 20, 2014