Hawaii News Now reports that an employee of H-POWER has been killed in an industrial accident at the facility. The victim was a 41-year-old Waianae male. His death was attributed to critical injuries to his lower extremities. The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) is investigating the incident. Reports indicate that the company has a good safety record and has complied with safety standards over the last several years. Foul play is not suspected.
The incident remains under investigation. Industrial accidents are often deadly, due to often dangerous conditions inherent in the working environment, such as working with dangerous machinery or hazardous materials, electrical components and dangerous structures. Further, many factors may lead to, or increase the likelihood that particular accident occurs, including human error, negligent or reckless organizational errors, or acts of God. When an incident does happen, a thorough investigation into all of the contributing concerns is important.
In general, worker's compensation laws protect employers from lawsuits brought by injured employees. However, in certain situations employers can be held liable for worker injuries if they had knowledge of unsafe conditions and failed to act in order to prevent injury. Third party liability claims may also exist where a faulty or dangerous product at the workplace causes the injury.
For more information, or if you have suffered an injury in an industrial accident, please contact the experienced Hawaii personal injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.