An industrial accident at the Tenaris coiled tubing facility, located in Tidwell in northeast Harris County, has left one man dead. The accident occurred between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2015. According to news reports, the man, a seven-year veteran of the company and father of six children, was crushed to death after getting caught between his forklift and a large spool. The forklift rolled forward, trapping and killing the worker. It is yet unclear why the man did not have a spotter, whose presence could have helped prevent this devastating accident.
Industrial accidents remain one of the top causes of catastrophic injury and death among workers in the United States. In 2014 alone, approximately 4,679 workers were killed on the job, averaging roughly 90 deaths a week (or 13 per day). According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), some of the most common reasons for injuries and deaths in the workplace include:
- Inadequate fall protection
- Failure to properly communicate potential hazards
- Lack of respiratory protection
- Faulty ladders
- Faulty electrical systems design or wiring
- Lack of appropriate machine guards
Falls, electrocutions, being struck by an object, or being caught in between an object are responsible for the most workplace fatalities. They are so common that OSHA refers to them as “The Fatal Four.”
Investigations into the unfortunate accident at Tenaris have yet to reveal if any OSHA violations were to blame for the death of the employee. We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim during this difficult time.
Talk to a Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer About Your Case Today
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one in a workplace accident, please get in touch with a Houston wrongful death attorney at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs as soon as possible. We are prepared to investigate your case to determine whether negligence caused the fatal accident, and can inform you of your legal options for pursuing compensation. You may be eligible to collect compensation for several economic and non-economic damages, including loss of financial support, loss of consortium, emotional anguish, and funeral and burial costs. We are fully committed to helping families obtain justice on behalf of their lost loved ones and are ready to exhaust all possible avenues in pursuit of a favorable outcome.
To learn more about how our Houston catastrophic injury lawyer may be able to assist you, please contact us today at (713) 751-0025. Se habla Español.
