If you have a loved one who has suffered or has died because of employer negligence, contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann.
Every year workers die in grain bins in unsafe working conditions. In 2010 there were 51 accidents and 26 deaths, some of these deaths were teenagers and boys who should not have legally been allowed to work in the grain elevators. And while OSHA investigates and cites the offending facilities, little has actually been done to improve conditions and ensure that these deaths do not keep happening.
On July 28, 2010, two teenagers were suffocated in corn and died when the corn turned to quicksand in a giant grain bin. Another worker, 20-year-old man was rescued, but a 14-year-old and 19-year-old sank too deep in the corn to be saved in time.
The teenagers were “walking down the grain” when they began to sink. Walking down corn is a practice where workers stand on top of a giant grain bin amidst the corn/grain and use shovels and picks to keep the grain flowing and from from sticking to the sides of the bin. Then they shovel it towards the center of the bin, where a hole forms. This practice is extremely dangerous and is illegal, yet many companies flout the law and continue to put workers in this dangerous situation.
Even though there were safety harnesses stored nearby, the boys were not told they should wear them in order not to sink into the grain.
Contact A Workers Compensation Lawyer
Losing a family member or loved one in a work accident is traumatic, and family members who lose a loved one are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Losing a loved one and a provider leaves families to cope with the strain of financial loss and the emotional devastation that comes from a death.
While the circumstances of this situation are unclear, and OSHA investigated, in many cases negligence plays a part. If negligence contributed to the accident, you may have grounds for a third-party lawsuit as well.
When employers take intentional risks with their employees lives and willfully put them at risk simply because it is more profitable, they need to be held accountable. If you have a loved one who has suffered or has died because of employer negligence, contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. Our legal team has a strong history of helping injured workers get the medical attention and financial compensation that they need. Please call (314) 361-4300 or toll free at (314) 361-4300.
photo credit: danxoneil