Maintenance worker injured on the job after serious fall

On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Industrial Workers’ Accidents on Thursday, July 14, 2016.

Maintenance crews are responsible for a wide variety of tasks that often put them in varying degrees of danger. Even the most adept maintenance workers in Illinois can suffer serious injuries when employers violate important safety protocols. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating possible safety violations after an out-of-state maintenance worker was injured on the job.

A two-man maintenance crew was involved in an accident while performing repair work on a wind turbine’s generator. Both men were suspended on a work platform approximately 120 feet above the ground. The platform apparently gave way and dropped without any clear reason or warning, and one of the workers fell to the ground. The other worker was secured by a lifeline and lowered himself to the dropped platform before safely disembarking.

One of the responding emergency personnel expressed shock at the accident, noting that he had never responded to the scene of an individual who had fallen from such a significant height. However, the worker did regain consciousness at one point and was able to converse with emergency workers. He was transferred to an area hospital where the exact nature of his injuries has not been disclosed.

An initial investigation by local police did not uncover any type of criminal activity behind the accident, but OSHA officials are still looking into possible safety violations that might have contributed to the fall. While employee negligence can be a contributing factor to workplace accidents, unfortunately some accidents are simply that. Even if no safety violations are found, Illinois workers who are injured on the job may still file for and receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Source: kwch.com, “Man hurt after falling from wind turbine in Pratt still hospitalized“, TJ Rigg, July 3, 2016