Biloxi Sun Herald Reports on Fatal Florida Workplace Heatstroke Accident – Questions Regarding Rights of Injured Biloxi Workers Answered

Late last week the Biloxi Sun Herald reported on a startling and tragic story about a workplace death in Florida due to extreme heat, and the subsequent fines that a Florida contractor-employer is facing in light of its failure to protect employees from fatal heat-involved workplace accidents. According to the Biloxi Sun Herald, Guerrero Ag, an Arcadia, Florida, farm labor contractor, is facing fines assessed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for “serious violations” of worker health and safety as a result of the fatal workplace accident in the amount of $30,651, on three consecutive days. The Biloxi Sun Herald reports that Guerrero Ag is believed to have required its employees to work “heavy manual labor” for “several hours” donning “long sleeves, long pants, and a hat” from December 2 to December 4, last year. The workers were working at an orange grove at that time in hot temperatures. As a result of being exposed to the high heat – that is, temperatures reaching 92 degrees—while being clothed in hot garments and working hard, manual labor, a Guerrero Ag worker collapsed, was hospitalized for three days in intensive care, and died on December 7, 2023. OSHA investigators believe that the worker who died had been in the hot temperatures working for approximately eight to nine hours before he collapsed from the extreme heat. In addition, other employees stated that they experienced “heat cramps and heat exhaustion” during that time period.

Ultimately, Guerrero Ag is accused by OSHA of “not providing first-aid training to employees working in an area without an infirmary, clinic or hospital,” and for not reporting the employee’s hospitalization within 24 hours, or the employee’s death within eight hours, as required by the Department of Labor. Danielle Jindra, OSHA area office director in Tampa, Florida, said of the tragic workplace death, “Employers must take action to protect employees from workplace hazards, including heat hazards both outdoors and indoors, to prevent another tragic and preventable death.”

Injured Biloxi Workers Have Rights and Options Under Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Laws

Importantly, most Biloxi workers who are injured on the job and who are unable to work as a result are entitled to important workers’ compensation benefits under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws. Under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, most injured workers in Biloxi are entitled to wage replacement benefits, medical expense reimbursement, vocational rehabilitation training, and more. In order to determine whether you may have a case for workers’ compensation benefits in Biloxi for your workplace injury, it is best to speak with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible after a serious workplace injury occurs.

The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC are here to help Mississippi workers get workers’ compensation benefits due to them. Contact the experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article289608852.html