While the type of hazard may vary due to occupation, all workplaces hold some degree of risk for workers. Even someone with a relatively safe job in Pennsylvania, such as an office worker, can ultimately suffer a great deal of pain due to repetitive movements while, on the other hand, those who work with heavy equipment could be pinned, for examples. Unfortunately, a man in another state has recently been killed after he was involved in a fatal workplace accident.
Reports indicate that the accident happened just before 8 a.m. on a day in October. The man is said to have been utilizing a piece of bobcat equipment to move wood pellets from a silo at German Pellets. Unfortunately, some of the pellets reportedly fell on both the man and the equipment.
Rescue workers were called to the scene and were ultimately able to free him. Unfortunately, he died at the scene of the accident. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on the incident. The tragedy will likely be investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. German Pellets was under scrutiny earlier this year when a fire burned in a silo for a month; a month after it collapsed, a judge issued a temporary injunction that required the company to take action to improve safety measures regarding public safety.
While an autopsy and OSHA investigation will work to help authorities better understand what caused the accident, the family of the man is likely facing immediate repercussions as a result of the fatal workplace accident. Most families in Pennsylvania are unprepared from the financial complications created by such a loss. However, because of the prevalence of work accidents, companies are required to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage that can help with lost wages and funeral expenses, among other costs. To ensure that fair compensation is received, many people ask a professional with experience with the process to help guide them through it.
Source: kfdm.com, "UPDATE: Man dies in accident at German Pellets," Oct. 20, 2017
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