Vehicles driving in work areas where other employees move about on foot have caused the death of many. If proper safety protocols are not established, the consequences can be devastating. Vehicle operators and pedestrians on work sites must receive safety training to prevent fatal vehicle accidents in work areas. The California Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be investigating an incident in which fatal workplace injuries resulted from a vehicle accident.
Investigators reported that the accident happened shortly after 9 p.m. in a parking lot of the main distribution facility of UPS in Sacramento. According to the report, a UPS employee was walking in the parking lot when he was struck by a UPS truck. Emergency workers extricated the injured worker from under the rig and rushed him to a medical center. However, he succumbed to significant injuries later.
The police reported that there was no reason to believe that alcohol or drugs played a part in this accident. The driver and UPS officials are reportedly cooperating with investigators. Cal/OSHA has strict safety regulations pertaining to vehicle safety on work sites and premises, and investigators will likely focus on UPS’s compliance with these regulations.
The surviving family members of this 47-year-old California worker who suffered fatal workplace injuries may pursue death benefits claims through the workers’ compensation insurance system. The benefits typically cover expenses related to end-of-life arrangements. In addition, the dependents may also receive financial assistance to cover daily living expenses and other financial obligations for a designated period following their sad loss.
Source: fox40.com, “UPS Employee Hit, Killed by UPS Truck in West Sacramento“, Genny McLaren, Jan. 7, 2016