Working in the construction industry in Florida and elsewhere is inherently risky. These risks can be exacerbated by weather conditions. This may have been the case in an accident that took the life of a man who had been working on a roof. That loss has caused his fiancée to be celebrating her first holiday season without him. Workers’ compensation insurance exists to help in situations like this.
A man was working on a church roof in Melbourne that was made of metal. There had been rain and the moisture sitting on the roof caused it to become slippery. The man lost his footing on the slippery surface and fell two stories to the ground below. He was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center but his injuries were extensive and doctors were unable to save him.
The company the man had been working for has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to adequately train and protect its employees against the risk of falling. The company was fined $18,375 by OSHA for failure to adequately protect its workers. Falls are said to be the number one cause of fatal accidents related to the construction industry.
Accepting that a job has risks and having access to adequate safety protections and training are both critical to maintaining a safe work environment in Florida. Losing a loved one in an accidental fall that may have been prevented had proper safety measures been implemented, is tragic. The hole left in a person’s life may never be filled. Workers’ compensation benefits cannot bring back the loved one but can provide compensation for medical costs, final costs and loss of income.
