Deaths In The Florida Workplace

The list of workplace deaths in the past week compiled at Confined Space underscore the need for greater attention to safety. And, sadly, features a number of Florida incidents. A sampling of the list:

Weekly Toll: Death In The American Workplace

Attendant dies after struggle with maximum security patient

CHATTAHOOCHEE, Fla. – An attendant at the state’s largest mental hospital collapsed and died after a struggle with a patient in the facility’s unit for the criminally insane, authorities said. James Smith, 52, of Gretna, apparently died from a heart attack Thursday night after coming to the aid of a co-worker, authorities said. Smith had worked at Florida State Hospital for more than 32 years.

Worker dies six months after high voltage shock

Cape Coral, FL – Ken Heller, 48, was shocked on March 1st when the concrete pumping equipment he was operating hit a power line.

Polk County workers killed in plane crash

Fort Meade, FL — Two Polk County mosquito-control employees were killed Thursday night when their county airplane crashed in a remote area in Fort Meade, a Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said. The twin-engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons in a phosphate-mine pit about 8 p.m. off Parrish Road and U.S. Highway 98, east of Fort Meade Peace River Park, spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said.

Dania man dies in two-floor fall

Fort Lauderdale, FL — A Dania Beach man dropped to his death Wednesday in one of several fall-related accidents that jolted construction workers across Broward County.

Michael Verneos, 56, fell two stories from a Sunrise condominium shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to police. The Artesia condo is under construction at North Flamingo Road and Oakland Park Boulevard.

1 Dead, 1 Hurt In Electrical Accidents

BRADENTON, FL – A Tampa man was electrocuted and another man injured in separate incidents Wednesday in northern Manatee County.

A 23-year-old WilsonMiller Surveying employee died when he cut down a bamboo tree that fell on a power line, authorities said. Joseph Obryan of Tampa was part of a five-person WilsonMiller Surveying crew that was clearing land on Moccasin Wallow Road.

MAN DIES OF APPARENT ELECTROCUTION AT WATSONVILLE FARM

Watsonville, CA – A man who died Wednesday morning while working at a mushroom farm in Watsonville has been identified as Erik Ramos-Zapeda, 29, of Watsonville, the Santa Cruz County coroner’s office reported today. Sgt. Larry Roland said Ramos-Zapeda appears to have electrocuted himself when he accidentally hit a power source with a pitchfork he was using to pile compost at Ariel Mushroom Farm.

Worker dies in fall at construction site

SAN MARCOS, CA – A man installing overhead cable fell to his death off a 25-foot lift at a strip mall under construction on South Las Posas Road and Via Vera Cruz yesterday.

Concrete pumping truck tips over, kills contractor

A self-employed contractor was killed Friday morning while working on a house foundation at Lake Caroline. A concrete pumping truck fell over bringing the boom on top of the unidentified worker.

800-pound pipe falls, kills worker at Tulsa plant

Tulsa, OK — Authorities say a worker at a bus manufacturing plant in Tulsa, Okla., died September 13 when an 800-pound pipe fell on him.

Many of these and other reports appear to have the potential for a civil action against a third-party (someone other than the employer) for wrongful death damages.

The list of workplace deaths in the past week compiled at Confined Space underscores the need for greater attention to safety. And, sadly, features a number of Florida incidents. A sampling of the list:

Weekly Toll: Death In The American Workplace

Attendant dies after struggle with maximum security patient

CHATTAHOOCHEE, Fla. – An attendant at the state’s largest mental hospital collapsed and died after a struggle with a patient in the facility’s unit for the criminally insane, authorities said. James Smith, 52, of Gretna, apparently died from a heart attack Thursday night after coming to the aid of a co-worker, authorities said. Smith had worked at Florida State Hospital for more than 32 years.

Worker dies six months after high voltage shock

Cape Coral, FL – Ken Heller, 48, was shocked on March 1st when the concrete pumping equipment he was operating hit a power line.

Polk County workers killed in plane crash

Fort Meade, FL — Two Polk County mosquito-control employees were killed Thursday night when their county airplane crashed in a remote area in Fort Meade, a Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said. The twin-engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons in a phosphate-mine pit about 8 p.m. off Parrish Road and U.S. Highway 98, east of Fort Meade Peace River Park, spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said.

Dania man dies in two-floor fall

Fort Lauderdale, FL — A Dania Beach man dropped to his death Wednesday in one of several fall-related accidents that jolted construction workers across Broward County.

Michael Verneos, 56, fell two stories from a Sunrise condominium shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to police. The Artesia condo is under construction at North Flamingo Road and Oakland Park Boulevard.

1 Dead, 1 Hurt In Electrical Accidents

BRADENTON, FL – A Tampa man was electrocuted and another man injured in separate incidents Wednesday in northern Manatee County.

A 23-year-old WilsonMiller Surveying employee died when he cut down a bamboo tree that fell on a power line, authorities said. Joseph Obryan of Tampa was part of a five-person WilsonMiller Surveying crew that was clearing land on Moccasin Wallow Road.

MAN DIES OF APPARENT ELECTROCUTION AT WATSONVILLE FARM

Watsonville, CA – A man who died Wednesday morning while working at a mushroom farm in Watsonville has been identified as Erik Ramos-Zapeda, 29, of Watsonville, the Santa Cruz County coroner’s office reported today. Sgt. Larry Roland said Ramos-Zapeda appears to have electrocuted himself when he accidentally hit a power source with a pitchfork he was using to pile compost at Ariel Mushroom Farm.

Worker dies in fall at construction site

SAN MARCOS, CA – A man installing overhead cable fell to his death off a 25-foot lift at a strip mall under construction on South Las Posas Road and Via Vera Cruz yesterday.

Concrete pumping truck tips over, kills contractor

A self-employed contractor was killed Friday morning while working on a house foundation at Lake Caroline. A concrete pumping truck fell over bringing the boom on top of the unidentified worker.

800-pound pipe falls, kills worker at Tulsa plant

Tulsa, OK — Authorities say a worker at a bus manufacturing plant in Tulsa, Okla., died September 13 when an 800-pound pipe fell on him.

Many of these and other reports appear to have the potential for a civil action against a third-party (someone other than the employer) for wrongful death damages.