It seemed like just another workday and just another load for 51-year-old truck driver Carmen DiLuzio. He had arrived at his worksite on the New Jersey Turnpike with a flatbed carrying several concrete barriers and began preparing to unload. That is when something went terribly wrong.
According to State Police spokesman Sergeant Stephen Jones, a one-ton barrier fell off the truck, as DiLuzio was unlatching straps, and crushed him. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
DiLuzio had been a driver for Tipton Trucking, the company contracted to deliver concrete barriers to the site, and was said to be an experienced driver. So what went wrong? Tipton safety officers, State police and OSHA officials are investigating the accident to learn the answer to that question. Meanwhile, a wife and two small children are left to cope with a loss that may have been preventable.
Construction sites are notorious locations for accidents. According to the Occupational Safety and health Administration (OSHA), construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. With a fatal occupational injury rate that is nearly three times that of all other U.S. workers, it is important for workers, supervisors and employers to take safety precautions seriously. Preventing injuries can be as simple and seemingly obvious as wearing safety gear, sounding horns before backing up and knowing equipment limitations.
Federal agencies have also developed resources, standards and regulations to protect workers and to prevent construction site accidents. For example, the Department of Transportation has created a guide for setting up safe work zones. Further, OSHA has created safety standards and regularly monitors sites for adherence.
Though most construction site accidents can be prevented, occasionally tragedy befalls even the most safety conscious. If an accident does occur, workers' compensation can provide financial assistance for time away from work. Unfortunately, it is often not sufficient to compensate a worker fully. In these situations, workers and their families have the right to seek additional compensation.
An attorney experienced in handling construction site accident cases can provide information and legal options to injured workers and to the families of workers killed on the job. Personal injury and wrongful death lawyers offer free initial consultations and do not charge attorney fees unless they obtain financial compensation for their clients.
