Ladder falls account for a significant part of workplace accident statistics nationwide, including in Colorado. The height of a ladder and the distance of the fall often impact the severity of such a workplace injury. However, it is not uncommon for a fall from the third or fourth step of a ladder to have devastating consequences.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a worker who fell from a ladder. An incident report indicates that other workers did not witness the fall, and investigators will work on determining the circumstances of the accident. Reportedly, the 56-year-old man was employed as a relief manager by Giant Food Stores in another state.
It was reported that the worker was discovered lying on the floor near a 12-foot ladder on Valentine’s Day. The blunt force trauma that he had suffered was indication enough that he had been working on the ladder when he fell. He was rushed to a hospital. Although his condition improved somewhat in the days following the fall, he only survived for a week.
During an autopsy, it was determined that the blunt force trauma had caused a blood clot to form in the worker’s lungs. This was apparently the ultimate cause of his death. Whenever a loved one of a Colorado family dies after suffering a workplace injury, the surviving family members may pursue financial assistance through the workers’ compensation insurance system. End-of-life expenses are typically covered by death benefits along with a financial package for dependents to replace a percentage of the deceased worker’s lost wages.
Source: ydr.com, “Shrewsbury Giant employee dies after fall“, Gordon Rago, Feb. 24, 2016