In what has been described as a freak accident, a Pennsylvania worker was crushed to death after being buried by a collapsing pile of rock salt. The accident apparently happened earlier this month.
The worker was inside of an excavator at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon and working on what was described as a massive mountain of rock salt. When the salt pile then collapsed around the excavator, the man was trapped inside of it.
Due to the conditions of the salt pile, rescue workers were unable to get to the man in time. “The salt kept collapsing around us,” one fire marshal explained. “We had to hook up heavy equipment to pull the excavator away to actually get to the patient.” Fortunately, no one else was injured due to what occurred.
Obviously such a circumstance will require more investigation. Figuring out why such accidents occurred can prevent the same thing from occurring in the future. However, efforts also need to be made to ensure that injured workers and family members are fairly compensated when a work-related accident occurs.
Attorneys experienced with workers’ compensation claims are accustomed to dealing with employers and insurance carriers to make certain any settlement is appropriate. These claims can involve compensation for medical care and wage loss. In certain circumstances it can result in a lump sum settlement.
We would like to think that more work-related accidents can be avoided. Unfortunately this will not occur until safety concerns are taken seriously by employers. Hopefully enforcement of workers’ compensation laws can make employers more cognizant of worker safety.
Source: CBS Philly, “Worker Crushed To Death By 100-Foot Rock Salt Pile In Bucks County,” Tim Jimenez, Jan. 2, 2014