Most people in California can appreciate putting in a hard day’s work. This may be particularly true for those who work in dangerous occupations. Unfortunately, it is not unknown for a worker to be injured or even killed while performing their work duties. As a result, their family members are left grapping with the loss they have suffered.
A tragic incident took place recently at John Wayne Airport in Southern California. According to an airport spokeswoman, one worker lost his life when a jet bridge tire exploded. The worker and another employee were performing maintenance on the tire in a workshop when the explosion occurred.
The force of the blast caused fire alarms to sound, alerting rescue crews. Unfortunately, this was not enough to save the life of the worker killed in the incident. The tire that exploded was approximately four feet in diameter and was used to link airport terminals to the doors of the airplanes. Cal-OSHA will be performing an investigation into the incident.
It is unfortunate that a worker died in this accident. When a person dies while performing their work duties, it may be possible for their survivors to seek death benefits through the state’s workers’ compensation system. Death benefits may be available to spouses, children and other dependents of the deceased. They can cover a certain amount of burial expenses, as well as provide payments to the appropriate parties at the total temporary disability rate for a certain period of time. While no amount of money can replace a loved one lost, death benefits obtained through the workers’ compensation system can go a long way to helping a family during a difficult time.
