Family of those fatally injured on the job to get death benefits?

On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Industrial Workers’ Accidents on Friday, July 25, 2014.

The conclusion of an investigation conducted by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed the cause of an International Nutrition Inc. building. According to OSHA, the collapse was ultimately the company’s fault, which makes those who were injured on the job eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Those in Illinois who have suffered a similar workplace injury may be particularly interested in OSHA’s recent decision.

On Jan. 20, 2014, the building in question collapsed, injuring nine employees who had to be taken to a local hospital. Four of those workers were actually trapped in the building and unable to escape. They had to be rescued by the local fire department before they were able to receive medical attention.

Sadly, two additional workers were fatally injured. Of the two men killed, one was a 10-year employee of International Nutrition. OSHA says that these deaths and injuries were caused by the storage of items such as rice hulls and limestone in bins on the building’s roof. The limestone bins were apparently overloaded, and three of the building’s floors collapsed under the excess weight.

OSHA cited International Nutrition with a total of 13 transgressions, including multiple safety violations. While some individuals in Illinois might be aware of workers’ compensation benefits for those who are injured on the job, others might be unaware that death benefits can also be paid in the event of an employee’s wrongful death. Regardless of the company’s alleged safety violations, the victims’ dependent family members have the right to pursue death benefits from the company. If successful, they can receive financial compensation in order to cover unexpected funeral costs and to also make up for any lost wages that those fatally injured may have been able to provide.

Source: feedstuffs.com, “Structural collapse caused by overloaded bins“, , July 22, 2014