A construction worker recently passed away while he was working in the Deep Tunnel, also known as McCook Reservoir Main Tunnel System. The Deep Tunnel, located in Summit, Illinois, in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. According to the Summit Fire Department, the man’s death is still pending investigation and the exact cause of his death has yet to be revealed.
The vice president of corporate communications for the company that employed the construction worker has further confirmed that the man died, but he did not reveal the cause of death either. The man said that his company, Kiewit, is deeply saddened by the news that its employee passed away. He further said that the company extends its condolences to the man’s friends, family and those worked with him.
The Deep Tunnel project began in 1972. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District project is intended to reduce the threat of flooding and better the water quality in streams and rivers in 51 of Chicago’s suburbs.
Many Illinois workers put their lives on the line, every single day when they go to work. They do this — often just to put food on their family’s tables — but the rest of us benefit immeasurably from their sacrifices. It is because of the risks they endure, and their important contributions to the community, that the Illinois workers’ compensation exists — to protect workers and their families when they need it most.
When a worker is killed in a tragic on-the-job accident, his or her family may be able to seek workers’ compensation death benefits by filing a workers’ compensation claim. If successfully navigated, such a claim can offer the family money to help stay financially stable in the weeks and months after the loss of their loved one.
Source: Patch, “Construction Company Employee Dies in Deep Tunnel Project: Officials,” Lorraine Swanson, Dec. 12, 2016
