A work accident resulted in the death of one construction worker and seriously injured another on Tuesday afternoon. The men were part of a construction crew that was performing work on an apartment complex in Columbia, South Carolina. According to the Richland County Coroner, the men were attempting to move a scaffolding when they fell and landed on nearby power lines. Tragically, one of the men was pronounced dead at the scene due to being electrocuted and the other was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The Richland County Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are conducting an investigation.
OSHA has named electrocutions as one of the “fatal four” construction accidents that claim the lives of hundreds each year. The other construction “fatal four” injuries are falls, struck by an object, and caught in or between machinery. Construction workers may have a higher chance of becoming injured or killed in a workplace accident, but all individuals are at-risk of suffering a work-related injury. Worker’s compensation insurance provides medical coverage and wage replacement to injured workers. However, their wages are only replaced at a rate of 66.6% of their average weekly wage in Missouri.
If you have suffered a work-related injury, it is necessary to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney to recover the compensation you deserve. The worker’s compensation attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth believe you are entitled to the maximum compensation when you are injured in an accident that was caused by another party’s negligence. We will fight to obtain that compensation for you while supporting you during the case. Contact the St. Louis law office of Meyerkord & Kurth to speak with a caring and experienced attorney.