Suffolk, VA — A man was hospitalized following a work accident in Suffolk, Virginia, on Thursday, January 22, 2015. The accident happened at Amadas Industries, in the 300 block of Kenyon Road.
Around 7:30, a 58-year old man was working beneath a piece of farm equipment, when the equipment or a piece of the equipment fell on him. The equipment was lifted off the man by a group of co-workers, and the man was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital by emergency workers.
Officials say that the man’s injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified and is currently investigating the accident.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
As I see it, there are a couple of things to consider in this accident. The first is that it happened on the job. That means that the man who was injured is going to be eligible for workers’ comp benefits. But we also need to look at how the accident happened. Reports say that the man involved had a piece of farm equipment fall on him. Okay, well, if the equipment was suspended in the air somehow, I imagine it was suspended for a reason, and that it wasn’t supposed to fall. What happened? If this is a case in which whatever was holding the thing up broke, or was in some way defective, then the victim could have a case against the manufacturer. Workers’ comp doesn’t cover third parties. The victim would still be eligible for WC benefits, in addition to having the option of bringing a claim against the manufacturer.
— Grossman Law Offices
