Every day, millions of workers across the country say goodbye to their family before they leave for work. They work hard and with faith in their employer that appropriate measures are in place in order to ensure their safety. Unfortunately, accidents still happen and can result in serious injury or death. All states, including Illinois, require employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for the benefit of their workers, though the laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Unfortunately, one family may qualify for these benefits after a fatal workplace accident took a man’s life in a nearby state.
The accident occurred in early April. Apparently, a crane overturned and ejected the 36-year-old man in the process. An autopsy concluded that the death was accidental.
Unfortunately, this was the second fatality in four months for the Michigan company, U.S. Steel. A 32-year-old man was killed and two other workers injured in an explosion that happened in Dec. 2013. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating both deaths to determine what, if any, health or safety standards were violated leading up to the fatalities. These investigations can typically take up to six months to complete.
The families of workers killed at work could be left in a precarious financial situation. They will have to cope with funeral expenses, for example, while adjusting to life without their loved one’s income. Fortunately, many employees in Illinois qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. In the event of a fatality, these benefits generally extend to the worker’s dependent family members. However, although family members may be entitled to these benefits, it is sometimes difficult to secure adequate and timely compensation without knowledge of and experience with the state laws governing such benefits
Source: Detroit Free Press, “Worker killed in Ecorse crane accident ID’d as Warren man”, Christina Hall, April 7, 2014
