No one goes to work thinking it will be the last time they leave their home but for some workers, a workplace accident can result in serious injuries or death. Our Houston readers will be saddened by a recent accident which left one worker dead and another in critical condition while they were working on a bridge in the southern part of the state.
The two men were preforming routine maintenance work on the Union Pacific bridge in Live Oak County when the accident occurred. According to officials, a hydraulic lift toppled over, sending both men plummeting 30 feet to the ground below. One man died at the scene, while the other man was taken to a Corpus Christi hospital where he is listed in critical but stable condition. Authorities have released no other information regarding the accident.
Usually when accidents like this occur, either a state or federal branch of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is called in to conduct an independent investigation. Local authorities as well as investigators from the injured employees’ company will also conduct an investigation. The focus will most likely be determining why the lift fell. There are several reasons that could exist, from operator error to adverse weather conditions or a flaw in the lift itself. Once all of the investigations are conducted, a cause may be determined, and if applicable, levels of blame will be applied to anyone found negligent.
If anyone is negligent, this could be used by the injured worker and the surviving family of the worker who was killed to determine if any legal action will be taken to seek compensation for the accident. The worker and the families could ask for lost wages, pain and suffering and any expenses incurred directly related to the accident.
Source: KHOU.com, “1 dead, 1 hurt in Texas railroad bridge accident” No author given, Sep. 05, 2013