Workplace injuries: California tree worker electrocuted

Along with the risk of falling, tree workers face several other hazards. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health requires employers to protect employees from known hazards. The safety agency has launched an investigation into a case in which a tree worker suffered fatal workplace injuries.

Reportedly, the fire department received a report of a tree on fire shortly before 11 a.m. on a recent Thursday. Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters found no fire but a tree worker was stranded about 50 feet up in the tree. The worker was a male in his 40s, and it was clear that he had made contact with an overhead power line.

The worker was unresponsive, and rescuers sadly confirmed that the tree care worker was electrocuted. The worker, who died at the scene of the tragedy, was employed by a tree care company. The Cal/OSHA investigators will work to identify the circumstances that led to the worker’s death, and they will likely also evaluate the employer’s compliance with prescribed safety standards.

Whenever an employee suffers fatal workplace injuries, the surviving family members of the deceased worker are likely entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits. Although no amount of money can undo the tragedy, it could ease the unanticipated financial burden of end-of-life expenses and lost income. An experienced California workers’ compensation attorney can help the family navigate the complicated benefits claims process. Legal counsel can provide support and guidance at every step of the process, including the administrative and legal proceedings.