OSHA to Investigate After Man Suffers Crushing Work Injury

When employees clock in for the work day, one of the last things on their minds is a trip to the local trauma center. Unfortunately, things can turn tragic in a second, and a worker can wind up suffering a devastating work injury. One New Jersey man found himself in such a situation after a terrible accident.

The workday likely started out the same as any other day as the 56-year-old man reported for his job at a local bed frame manufacturer. As a mechanical ceiling winch was moving a load of metal, the man was somehow caught up in the steel bundle. The metal then fell across his lower body, trapping him.

The accident happened around 9:30 in the morning, and emergency responders worked for approximately 60 minutes to free the victim before he was sent to a nearby medical facility. During the rescue operation, a surgeon trained in trauma operations responded to the scene most likely to help monitor the man’s condition. The more than 3,000-pound load crushed the man’s legs, but he remained alert and coherent during the entire time it took to free him.

Officials reported that the worker suffered severe injuries to his lower body, but there was no further information concerning the man’s condition. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be conducting a thorough investigation in order to determine whether the company committed any safety violations. This New Jersey man will likely file a worker’s compensation claim while he works to recover from his traumatic work injury. He may choose to seek the advice of an attorney to ensure that his claim is handled in a timely manner and that he receives all of the benefits to which he is entitled.

Source: nj.com, “Man badly hurt when nearly 2 tons of steel pins his legs“, Anthony G. Attrino, Feb. 22, 2017