Football is one of America’s favorite past times. Many people are excited for the end of summer simply because it means the start of football season. However, one California team’s attempt to improve their fans’ experience by building a new football stadium has led to a tragic industrial accident, the second one in a year at the construction site. The circumstances surrounding the second, most recent, accident are still being investigated.
According to reports, in mid-October the driver of a delivery truck was crushed by a load of rebar being unloaded from his truck. He worked for a subcontractor at the construction site. Although an ambulance rushed the man to the hospital, he later died from his injuries.
Work on the stadium will continue soon as a preliminary investigation found the job site is, overall, safe. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will conduct a detailed investigation over the course of the next few months. The goal of their investigation is to determine what caused the accident and how future incidents can be prevented.
In addition to their emotional grief, the man’s family members are likely wondering how they will cope financially after his death. California state law requires employers to provide their employees with the workers’ compensation insurance coverage in the event of an industrial accident. In the case of a death, applicable benefits typically extend to the employee’s surviving family members. This can help with medical costs, funeral expenses and lost wages. While most surviving dependents are entitled to these benefits, some have found it difficult to secure timely and full payment and have find additional assistance helpful to navigate the sometimes complicated and confusing path to receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.
Source: Connecticut Post, 2nd worker dies at 49ers stadium construction site, No author, Oct. 15, 2013