An Illinois family has to cope without a beloved husband and father after a tragic accident on a recent Friday. The 47-year-old employee of a company that provides electrical and lighting solutions died when he suffered a fatal work injury. Reportedly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Preliminary reports indicate that the employee was busy with a sign installation at a shopping center when he became trapped between a crane and the bell tower where he was working. Emergency workers responded to a call around noon and found the pinned man unresponsive and unconscious. They pronounced his death even before they removed his body — a process that took about three hours. Authorities revealed that his death was caused by asphyxiation due to compression of his neck.
The man was a sign maintenance worker who had been in the employ of the company for about four years. OSHA said two officers are interviewing witnesses to help them determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy. OSHA will also investigate the employer’s compliance with safety regulations.
The surviving family members of this Illinois worker who lost his life in a fatal work injury can file workers’ compensation benefits claims to help them cope with the high expenses related to end-of-life arrangements. In addition, the insurance program typically provides a wage replacement package to assist with the day-to-day living expenses of the deceased worker’s dependents. This financial package is usually based on the average weekly wage of the victim.
Source: ehstoday.com, “Illinois Maintenance Worker Suffocates to Death“, Stefanie Valentic, Feb. 8, 2017