The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health reports that it is investigating a recent incident that caused critical injuries to a worker in Fremont. The agency notes that it now has two construction workers’ accidents under investigation in which employees of the same company suffered serious injuries. In the previous instance, a worker who was caulking fell from one floor to the lower one in June.
The new investigation was opened after Cal/OSHA learned that a rebar tower collapsed and fell onto three workers. According to the Fremont Fire Department, emergency workers rushed to the scene at which the workers were busy with a wrapping process when the structure toppled over. The battalion chief said the steel tower weighed approximately 1,000 pounds.
Reportedly, one of the workers suffered critical injuries, while the other two suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. They were transported to two different hospitals. Cal/OSHA inspectors will determine whether this accident was caused by violations that compromised the safety of the three workers who were injured.
Construction workers’ accidents often cause the victims to be hospitalized for extended periods, with extensive follow-up therapy afterward. It would only be natural for them to become anxious about mounting medical bills along with lost wages. Fortunately, help is available. An experienced California workers’ compensation attorney can assist with the process to claim workers’ compensation benefits. The state-regulated insurance program typically pays all medical expenses immediately, and workers whose injuries cause temporary disability are awarded a wage-replacement package, which will cover a percentage of lost income.