The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was at the scene of a grain bin accident in Illinois on a recent Wednesday afternoon. Several teams of rescuers were involved in the effort to bring two workers to safety. Sadly, only one survived this work-related accident. According to the Manteno Fire Chief, an emergency call came in at about 11 a.m., and rescue teams rushed to the grain elevator.
Reportedly, two workers who were cleaning the grain bin were heading out of the 110-foot tall elevator for lunch when one of them fell. The 58-year-old employee, with a service record of 40 years with the company, became trapped when he landed on approximately 8,000 bushels of corn. His 28-year-old co-worker alerted employees at ground level, before climbing back down to help the older man.
His efforts were in vain, and rescuers had to pull him out too. That worker was taken to the hospital from where he was released later. After searching for about seven hours, rescuers managed to recover the body of the other worker. He was declared dead at the scene. A preliminary report indicates that the multiple injuries he suffered in the fall caused his death.
Losing a loved one in a work-related accident is understandably a traumatic experience for anyone, and the unanticipated financial consequences can exacerbate the trauma. Fortunately, help is available. An experienced Illinois workers’ compensation attorney can assist along every step of the process to claim survivors’ benefits through the Illinois workers’ compensation insurance system. Surviving family members typically receive benefits to cover end-of-life expenses and a percentage of lost wages.
