Worker dies from trip-and-fall accident; steps violated safety regs
December 9, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: Bizarre Accident of the Week, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
From our Bizarre Accident File: A trip-and-fall incident proved fatal at a glass manufacturing plant in Tumwater, WA.
Christopher Benson, 23, tripped while he was rushing up stairs at the Cardinal Coated Glass plant.
His neck hit the edge of a pane of glass that was coming off an assembly line. The glass severed Benson’s left carotid artery. He died at the scene, according to an article in the newspaper, The Olympian.
An investigation by the state Department of Labor and Industries concluded the steps violated workplace safety rules because they were too narrow and too far apart.
Cardinal was cited for two serious violations of workplace safety rules and faces a $3,500 fine.
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Tags: fatal, investigation, trip and fall
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December 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Would this be considered a VSSR (Violation of a Specific Safety Regulation) and Intentional Tort thus allowing civil suit. Would the company be fined by their states BWC if it is a VSSR?
December 17th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Not the first slip-and-fall I’ve seen that resulted in a fatality. But it is an odd one. You’d think working around all that glass they’d be super-vigilant about such hazards.
When I worked for OSHA I investigated one where a 54-year-old man tripped over something stored in an aisle and broke his hip. During surgery to repair the fracture a blood clot went to his brain and killed him.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
VSSR is specific to Ohio. It probably woiuld be considered a VSSR in Ohio.