In the span of two weeks, three employees at a Valley Proteins plant in North Carolina suffered injuries on the job. Sadly, only one of them survived. These work accidents have other employees concerned about their safety.
What happened?
Most recently, a crane fell on a truck. An employee was in the vehicle and saw the crane fall. He was able to get on the floor of the truck before it hit, which saved his life, but he did suffer unspecified injuries. It is unclear if this incident has been reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The week before that incident, two employees were found unresponsive. It is unclear what happened. Sadly, they could not be saved. OSHA is in the process of investigating this event. They believe this incident is hazmat-related.
Workers’ compensation
The injured employee and the family members of the deceased workers may be entitled to seek workers’ compensation benefits for their losses. The injured victim may receive relief for any time off work and medical expenses needed as part of his recovery — more if disability comes into play. The families of the employees who died from their injuries may seek monetary compensation to cover funeral expenses, lost wages and benefits — among other things, which may help them stay afloat as they try to move forward. Achieving maximum relief may prove challenging in either case. Thankfully, a North Carolina-based workers’ compensation attorney can help them take steps to fight for fair and full compensation.