The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health prescribes strict safety regulations for all industries. Employers must provide workplaces that are free of known hazards. Safety standards include the safe operation of company vehicles. Safety training for vehicle operators is crucial, and all workers must receive training on safely sharing their workplace with vehicles. A significant number of workers’ compensation claims involve injuries and fatalities caused by negligent drivers.
Cal/OSHA has launched an investigation into the death of an agricultural worker on the property of a food producer in Northern California. The California Highway Patrol reported that a truck operator backed up without checking for workers behind the vehicle. The worker who was struck succumbed to his injuries before he could be transported to a hospital.
Cal/OSHA investigators will determine the circumstances that led to the fatal accident. The company’s overall compliance with prescribed safety standards will be reviewed. However, the surviving family members of the deceased worker can proceed with the filing of a workers’ compensation claim for death benefits regardless of the outcome of the investigation.
The California workers’ compensation insurance program offers benefits to families of workers who died in work-related accidents. Survivors’ benefits typically cover the expenses related to end-of-life arrangements. Furthermore, a financial package might form a part of the compensation to make up for lost wages and assist with financial obligations like rental or mortgage payments and day-to-day expenses. An attorney with experience in this field of the law can provide valuable support and guidance throughout the administrative and legal proceedings of the benefits claims process.