One Illinois family is mourning the death of a 56-year-old man who was killed in a horrifying work accident. The man was crushed by a forklift while attempting to service it. Though the investigation is still ongoing and it is not known exactly what happened, this is a chilling reminder that a work accident can happen even under what appear to be the most normal circumstances.
The accident, which happened in Sycamore at a Menards storage lot, ideally shouldn’t have occurred. The worker had serviced similar machines at many different stores and was experienced in dealing with forklifts. At the time of the accident, he had been servicing a forklift by performing mechanical work. While he was working on it, he was trapped in the piece of machinery and was crushed to death.
Workers called 911 when they discovered the scene that afternoon. Emergency responders reported that the victim was not breathing and unconscious when they arrived. The DeKalb County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene of the accident. Management notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the fatal work accident, which is the case in every workplace fatality. In order to follow standard practices, OSHA is investigating the accident.
No words can express the heartbreak that the victim’s loved ones must feel. As OSHA officials continue to investigate the Illinois work accident, it is hoped that they will gain closure from the results as they struggle with life after the loss of this man. They may take some solace in the fact that workers’ compensation death benefits should assist with medical and funeral expenses, in addition to the man’s lost income as a result of the tragedy. In the meantime, the employers will hopefully learn from this accident and enforce safety measures to make sure that similar accidents never happen again.
Source: New York Injury News, “Sandwich Man Killed in Forklift Accident at Sycamore Menards,” Nicole Howley, March 31, 2012
