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Electrocution causes truck driver’s death in workplace accident

Company owners in Georgia may recognize the importance of providing their workers with safety training and keeping them updated on the strict safety regulations that are prescribed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, when people have been working for many years, they may need to be reminded of safety procedures and potential hazards at regular intervals, as it is not uncommon for complacency to develop. Many an avoidable workplace accident have caused severe injuries and even deaths, leaving countless families with financial difficulties after medical and end-of-life expenses.

An investigation is underway after the death of a 63-year-old man who was electrocuted while delivering a load of grain to a farm in another state. The county sheriff suspects the worker to have activated the truck’s boom to deposit the grain into the silo, and upon moving the boom in the direction of the silo, it connected with overhead electrical power lines. The worker suffered a fatal electrical shock, and his lifeless body was found behind the truck.

The sheriff said that workers sometimes rush their jobs to get it done as quickly as possible, and this often leads to work accidents. A witness described seeing the black smoke caused by the electrical bolt and rushing to the truck. He found that his intentions to assist the victim proved unnecessary because he was clearly already dead.

The family of this Georgia worker who died as the result of a workplace accident may be in need of financial assistance, as the costs related to a funeral and burial are not typically budgeted. In addition, they may be facing added final costs, along with the lack of their loved one’s income. Fortunately, most workers are covered by the workers’ compensation insurance fund, which aims to provide financial aid to injured workers and the families of workers who have lost their lives. Families may be eligible to claim benefits from the fund, and they may receive compensation to cover end-of-life costs and a percentage of lost wages. In addition, the fund may award benefits for surviving spouses and/or family members.

Source: News Channel 9, “Man Electrocuted In McMinn County”, Jerry Askin, July 3, 2014

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