New Jersey Man Suffers Work Injury 6 Feet Under

Those working in physically demanding jobs not only rely on their own manpower to complete the job but also their equipment. However, sometimes, equipment can fail, causing a delay in the job completion or worse, a work injury. Recently, a New Jersey cemetery worker experienced a failure of equipment, which led to him being buried alive.

Little did the 59-year-old man know he was digging his own grave while just doing his job. As he was working on a new grave, the concrete burial vault cover used in the burial process collapsed on top of him. The man was then pinned down by the 800-pound concrete slab until emergency crews could arrive.

Local law enforcement, firefighters and EMT’s were on the scene to dig out the man after the mid-morning accident. A team of emergency officials had to manually shovel the dirt off of the slab and then used straps to elevate the concrete slab. They were able to lift the slab high enough for the man to escape. The 59-year-old was taken to a local hospital to be treated for chest injuries. The accident is currently under investigation. 

It’s not every day in New Jersey that someone is buried alive while on the job. However, accidents do occur, and an unexpected work injury can leave one without a paycheck and mounting medical bills. A workers’ compensation attorney can help file for the benefits entitled to an injured employee. Ensuring these benefits can help bring relief to an employee out of work due to an injury.

Source: dailyrecord.com, “Hanover cemetery worker trapped in grave by 800-pound vault cover“, William Westhoven, Feb. 20, 2018