Many construction workers in Georgia and across the nation perform job-related duties from heights every day. While operating several stories above ground, workers are required to wear safety equipment to protect against a fall, as the consequences of falling from even a lesser distance can be catastrophic. A 41-year-old man has died after falling into an elevator shaft during a recent construction accident in another state.
The accident is said to have taken place on a recent Tuesday as the man was working on a housing project at a nine-story building. While operating on the roof of the structure, officials assert that the man suddenly fell into a nearby elevator shaft and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter. No further details were provided as to the exact manner of his death, as officials are currently awaiting the results of an autopsy.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reportedly initiated an investigation into the accident, likely in hopes of determining what might have caused it to occur. It remains unclear if the man was wearing the necessary safety equipment prior to the fall, or if the necessary precautions were in place to warn workers of the presence of the open shaft. Regardless of how it occurs, losing a loved one under similar circumstances can be a traumatic experience.
In addition to the grief involved, the financial hardships that can follow a fatal construction accident could leave surviving family members in desperate search of relief. Those who lose a loved one in such an incident may be eligible to receive aid through the workers’ compensation insurance system, but the process can be challenging to navigate. Fortunately, there are attorneys in Georgia that can help a person pursue the full amount of compensation achievable through all available outlets.