It is no secret that some industries are inherently more dangerous than others. The construction industry for example, can be a dangerous business. Our New York readers learned recently about a construction accident involving a crane, in which a construction worker was killed.
Recently it was reported that another fatal workplace accident took place in New York in which one worker was killed and another seriously injured. Similar to the recent construction accident, this fatal accident also involved a crane.
The accident took place at the Linita Design and Manufacturing in Lackawanna, New York. For some unreported reason a steel beam fell from a crane while employees were working below. The 6,000 pound steel beam bounced when it hit the ground and then hit two workers.
A 46-year-old man who was struck in the midsection by the beam was rushed to Mercy Hospital where he died of his injuries. A 26-year-old worker had his legs broken by the beam and was taken from the steel plant to Erie County Medical Center. He was reported to be in serious but stable condition.
Any accident such as this will be investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA will determine whether any fault or negligence was involved, and levy fines if appropriate. In this particular case, since the beam hit the ground and bounced, a safety helmet would not have provided the necessary protection.
According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, approximately 18 percent of fatal workplace injuries were caused by contact with an object which includes falling objects like the steel beam or getting caught in machinery. Transportation incidents are the most common cause of workplace deaths at 43 percent.
In this particular case, the surviving family members of the 46-year-old man should be able to obtain workers’ compensation survivor’s benefits. The 26-year-old man should also be able to obtain workers’ comp benefits.
Source: New York Injury News, “Lackawanna Steel Plant Accident Kills Man, Injures Another,” Nicole Howley, Oct. 7, 2012
- At our New York law firm we help workers obtain workers’ compensation benefits when they have been injured on the job due to an accident, illness or other condition. We also assist families who have lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident or incident.