Massachusetts Worker Dead After Suffering Workplace Accident involving Forklift at Waste and Recycling Center

A Massachusetts waste and recycling worker suffered a fatal and horrific workplace accident this week in Abington, Massachusetts. Local news outlets report that 67-year-old Donald Schaefer, of Braintree, Massachusetts, was working at Troupe Waste & Recycling in Abington, when he fell from a forklift. It is reported that as Schaefer fell from the forklift, steel container bottoms at the facility also fell on top of Schaefer. The accident occurred around 1:40 p.m. in the afternoon on October 11. Although first responders are said to have arrived on the scene soon after the tragic accident occurred, and began life-saving procedures to try to stabilize Schaefer, he was ultimately pronounced dead at the hospital.

Investigations into Schaefer’s terrible workplace accident and death reveal that Schaefer and two other workers were offloading steel container bottoms from the forklift. While the three workers were offloading the steel container bottoms, Schaefer stood on top of one of the loads to balance the weight of the load, but the load shifted and he was thrown to the ground. The container bottoms then fell on top of Schaefer. The other workers are said to have pushed the container bottoms off of Schaefer and called emergency services. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Massachusetts state law enforcement are investigating the accident.

The Dangers of Forklifts in the Workplace

Forklifts are very useful vehicles when it comes to many different types of work. However, while forklifts are powerful tools that can accomplish a number of critical tasks, especially in warehouse and logistics work, they can also be deadly to workers. Forklifts are heavy machines that can weigh several tons and can move at fast speeds. They can topple over, shift, and can run over workers, so workers must exercise extreme caution when working with forklifts or around forklifts, and employers should implement safety protocols for forklift operation.

Help for Injured Workers in Mississippi

Most workers who are injured on the job in Mississippi and who are rendered unable to work as a result are entitled to Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits. In addition, certain dependent family members of workers who have been killed in fatal workplace accidents may also be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws. In order to determine whether you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in Mississippi, it is best to speak with a Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible about your case.

If you were injured in a forklift accident or another type of workplace accident in Mississippi, the experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm Lunsford Baskin & Priebe are here to help. The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help fight to get you workers’ compensation benefits due. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe today and speak to a lawyer about your case for free.

Source:

patch.com/massachusetts/braintree/braintree-man-dead-abington-workplace-accident