Unfortunately, accidents occur quite frequently in the construction industry. Heights, machinery and electricity can all cause serious injuries or even death. Sadly, that was recently the case for a New York man who died on a construction site, while moving a piece of equipment at a computer chip plant.
The fatal construction accident occurred on the evening of June 26 at the Global Foundries complex in Malta, 20 miles away from the state’s capital of Albany. The 54-year-old man was part of a six-person crew tasked with transporting an industrial air exchanger to a different location. The accident happened as the air exchanger was moved to an opening on the fourth floor.
The New York man died from construction injuries. No details were disclosed on what exactly caused the man’s death. He worked for John Danforth Construction. Work has ceased at the facility, while the investigation is underway.
Sometimes, accidents happen even when the proper steps have been taken. However, in many cases, the employer is held liable for the accident. Even though construction is one of the most dangerous industries, many employers fail to adequately train employees to perform their jobs. In addition, employers often ignore state and federal regulations. When they fail to comply with these laws, they can face hefty fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
When a workplace accident results in death, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will typically come to the scene and perform a thorough investigation. This investigation takes several months, but helps authorities, and everyone involved understand the victim’s cause of death and places liability on the negligent party. If the employer is at fault, the victim’s family may have the opportunity to file a wrongful death lawsuit and recover compensation for damages.
Source: Daily Journal, “54-year-old man dies in workplace accident at upstate New York computer chip plant,” June 27, 2014