On April 15, a construction worker in Pennsylvania died as a result of critical injuries that he had sustained in a workplace accident two days before. The 36-year-old man was working on an expansion project at the King of Prussia Mall outside of Philadelphia when he was electrocuted.
According to reports about the fatal workplace accident, the victim had been working on the mall expansion project early in the morning of April 13 when he was shocked by an energized cable. Crews that were using a scissor jack lift to cut overhead electrical lines had severed the 30,000-volt, 20-amp cable that fatally shocked the victim. Another man was also electrocuted in the accident, but he survived his injuries. Emergency personnel also transported a third man to the hospital as a precaution.
Upper Merion Police say that when officers arrived on the scene, the 36-year-old man was moved to a safe area and given emergency treatment. CPR was performed, and a portable defibrillator was used. Afterwards, Lafayette Ambulance took the man to a local hospital. The man died from his injuries two days after the accident, and his death was ruled an accidental electrocution by the Chester County Coroner’s Office.
After this kind of a workplace accident, an investigation may be launched to determine if there were any safety violations that led to its happening. Regardless of what factors caused the accident, injured workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. If a worker dies in an accident, the worker’s family members may file a claim for workers’ compensation death benefits. Victims often find the assistance of an attorney helpful during the preparation and filing of a claim.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal, “Construction worker dies after accident at KofP Mall expansion,” Jeff Blumenthal, April 17, 2015