Many Miami homeowners use granite and other stones for their countertops because it is very strong and durable. Imagine the damage a granite slab could cause if it fell. Now imagine 10 slabs falling on two employees. Sadly, that was the situation that recently occurred at a stone fabricator in California. The construction accident killed the two workers, who had been with the company for 4-5 years.
The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating the fatal accident, which occurred on the morning of Feb. 7 at Galaxy Granite Inc. The employees were unloading the granite slabs from a truck when they were injured. Emergency crews arrived within minutes to assist.
The men were trapped beneath the granite and fire crews had to smash it in order to free the men. The rescue effort took about five minutes, but it was not quick enough – one man had already died. The other man was rushed to a local hospital, but he also died a short time later.
The investigation could take several months to complete. At that time, it should be determined if the incident was an accident caused by the employees or if the company is at fault. Granite is a very heavy material and ideally, there should be safety regulations in place to ensure that employees are protected.
Galaxy Granite has had no prior violations or accidents. However, the families of the men who died may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These lawsuits can help provide financial recovery for damages and losses the families suffered as a result of their loved one’s deaths.
Source: CBS San Francisco, “Falling Granite Slabs Kill 2 Workers At San Francisco Construction Site” No author given, Feb. 07, 2014
