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Work accident claims life of plastics factory employee

Industrial facilities typically pose multiple safety hazards. Company owners are responsible for the health and safety of their employees. Unfortunately, that responsibility is frequently disregarded — especially if there is a choice between profits and employee safety. It is unclear whether a safety violation led to a fatal work accident at a New Jersey plastic manufacturer on July 25.

Some of the typical safety precautions required in factory setups include safety guards and screens installed on machines to prevent workers from making contact with dangerous moving parts. Another hazard that can cause a severe injuries is the lack of lockout/tagout devices on equipment. These must be present on all machines to prevent accidental activation while repairs or maintenance takes place.

The circumstances that led to the death of the 46-year-old employee of the plastics manufacturer is unclear, but could have been one of the above. An incident report indicated that the man died after receiving a blow to the head by a part of a machine. It was stated that the worker was in the process of resolving a problem with the printing machine that he was using when he was struck. Such issues should only be addressed after equipment has been de-energized — hence the need for lockout devices.

All New Jersey workers are entitled to pursue claims for financial aid after suffering workplace injuries. If an employee should die as the result of a work accident, his or her surviving family members have the right to pursue claims for death benefits from the workers’ compensation insurance system. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can explain the procedures and provide assistance when filing such a claim.

Source: lehighvalleylive.com, “Man who died in Phillipsburg area industrial accident is identified“, Tony Rhodin, July 25, 2017