When a person dies while doing their job, there is usually an investigation that involves several agencies. Law enforcement and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are two examples of investigators who attempt to piece together how a workplace accident occurred. Our readers in Houston will be saddened to know that a man was killed while on the job just a few days ago.
According to the Cameron County sheriff, a 67-year-old man died after he fell from the tractor he was riding on Sept. 11. No one witnessed the accident, and the man, who had worked for the company for about 20 years, had a history of heart problems. The accident occurred around 7:30 a.m. in Lyford.
According to a company spokesperson, OSHA arrived on site to investigate the accident later that afternoon. Usually, the agency speaks to witnesses of the accident, inspects any equipment that was involved as well as the accident scene, and delves into the work history of the injured or killed worker. Once they have gathered enough information, they determine whether the company could have done something to prevent to accident from occurring. This is important information for the injured person of the surviving family members of a worker who is killed. Since there were no witnesses and the man had a history of health problems, OSHA will most likely also want to examine any medical records that pertain to the accident, to determine if a medical condition played a role in the fatal accident.
In this case, if the company is found complicit for the accident, the family could seek legal counsel as to whether it would be in their best interests to seek damages from the company. The family could request compensation for medical and final expenses, as well as for pain and suffering and loss of companionship.
Source: KHOU.com, “<south 12,="" 2013=""