A 55-year-old man was killed on Nov. 13 after replacing an emergency light at High Grade Beverage in New Jersey. According to authorities, the man was replacing the light when he was electrocuted while on a scissor lift. Police attempted to perform CPR on the man when they arrived at the scene. The man was transported to Saint Clare’s Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to OSHA, High Grade Beverage has been inspected multiple times over the past decade. After a 2011 inspection, the company was cited for violations related to hazard communication as well as forklift performance evaluation. According to OSHA records, the company had paid $11,070 to resolve those incidents. However, there were no citations related to possible risks related to electrocution. OSHA has been notified of the most recent incident.
If an employee is subject to unsafe working conditions, it may increase the odds of an accident occurring. If an accident does occur because of dangerous conditions, the victim or victim’s family may be entitled to benefits. Typically, the family of the deceased worker would pursue a workers’ compensation case seeking a death benefit on behalf of the deceased. An attorney may be helpful to those who are seeking compensation.
In the event that a benefits application is denied, legal counsel could help during the appeal process. It may be possible for a lawyer to gather more evidence supporting the family’s case. Typically, a workers’ compensation case is settled out of court between representatives of the worker’s family and the employer. If necessary, however, an attorney could represent a family in court.