Personal Injury Law

Clear Lake company issued a fine for the death of a worker who fell into an open hopper

By Steve Lombardi

Clear Lake company issued a fine for the death of a worker who fell into an open hopper

IOSH, or OSHA as it's most commonly called fined a Clear Lake company $357,000 for an accident that killed an employee. The Des Moines Register article indicates this is the second time an open hopper unprotected by guardrails has been the issue of a citation. The worker that died is 35, Simon Trinidad. He's entitled to receive at the very least workers' compensation death benefits. If he was married or had dependents they too are entitled to benefits.

"The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Bureau said employees were exposed to the 12-foot deep, open hopper that was unprotected by guardrails. The company was cited in 2006 for the same violation."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-aFFFci4cY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNB-QNeaHDU

Worker safety is an important tool of the trades. Know the rules and protect yourself from injury and death following a fall into an open pit or hopper. Although these video clips are about scaffolding the rules are applicable to open pits with risk of falling.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on April 26, 2009 (boomark / email).