Employer receives citations after a fatal workplace accident
It is the duty of employers in California to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Employers are required to perform regular inspections in order to discover any workplace issues that can injure their employees. Failure to do so can increase the chance of a workplace accident that often leads to serious injuries and fatalities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited an employer in California after a workplace accident killed two employees. Based on a report, the workers were in a personnel platform troubleshooting a broken cable when the rigging broke. The two workers plummeted 80 feet and died. According to OSHA, Disney Construction Inc., the employer of the deceased workers, failed to inspect a crane for defects, which could have prevented the deadly accident. OSHA added that the crane operator failed to perform an unmanned test run in order to determine if the rigging was in proper working condition before the workers climbed the personnel platform. Lastly, OSHA added that there was no qualified, trained lifting person to assist with the lifting operation. Disney Construction was fined $106,110 for these violations.
For the family members of the deceased, it is difficult to accept the loss of their loved ones after they have read the reports released by OSHA. The reports conclude that the employer was negligent during operations, since precautionary measures, if followed properly, can definitely save workers’ lives. The family of the deceased may be able to receive compensation under the workers’ compensation benefits program. It is important for the family of the deceased workers to consider all of their options before filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Readers who are interested in learning more about workers’ compensation and other related issues should seek legal advice from knowledgeable professionals. These legal professionals can provide sound advice to those who are dealing with complicated legal cases.
Source: Facility Executive, “Cal/OSHA cites Disney Construction for two worker fatalities,” Heidi Schwartz, Dec. 31, 2014