Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

Philly.com reports that a worker died after he was struck by a refrigerator that was thrown off a building’s balcony. The accident occurred on December 14 in Milwaukee. A construction crew was emptying the contents of a building and workers threw the refrigerator after they were given the all clear, but the victim walked out and was hit.

Unfortunately, these types of accidents are common at construction sites in Pennsylvania and often result in head injuries and death. In fact, statistics from The Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008 showed that out of the 5,071 construction workers killed that year, 349 were killed when they were struck by falling objects. Injuries of this type increased about 7 percent from the previous year.

This tragic construction site accident shows how important it is for employers to train their workers in proper safety etiquette and make sure they are aware of the rules and laws that are in place. In this case, the workers reportedly called out “all clear,” before throwing the refrigerator, but this was not adequate warning, as the victim was struck by the object.

There are standards for workplace safety in Pennsylvania that include requirements for safety equipment, dealing with heavy objects, machinery or dangerous chemicals; and regular worker breaks. OSHA will investigate this accident, but it may take several months to conclude why this tragedy occurred.

The family of the man who was killed in this catastrophic construction site accident would be advised to find an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who will thoroughly investigate the accident. Not only could the employer be held liable, but if the man’s co-workers were at-fault, they could also be held legally responsible for his death. The Philadelphia construction site accident lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP can help injured Pennsylvania construction workers and their families by answering their questions during their free consultation regarding their case.