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Power line accident kills worker, injures another

On Behalf of | Jul 29, 2014 | Workplace Accidents |

Authorities in Minnesota have reported that an accident at the site of a power line construction project on July 28 claimed the life of one worker and left another injured. There were no immediate reports regarding the severity of the worker injury or the man’s chances of recovery. The workplace accident occurred around 8:45 a.m. near Fairfax in Renville County.

A representative from the Renville County Sheriff’s Office said that a helicopter was called in to transport the injured workers to a nearby trauma center. The men had been working on the CapX2020 Brookings County-Hampton project, which is designed to cater to the growing power needs of state residents. A representative of the company leading the construction project said that work at the site had stopped for the time being.

The two men were working on one of the towers connected to the power line in the vicinity of 510th Street and 660th Avenue. Representatives from both local law enforcement, OSHA and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry are working together on the investigation. The tower that the men were working on serves a power line that delivers more electricity than a bolt of lightning, but experts said that they do not yet know how much electricity the two men were exposed to.

Workers injured while on the job may file a workers’ compensation claim regardless of who was at fault for the accident. However, the process can be combative, and an employer may claim that a worker’s injury was not work related. An attorney with experience in this area could represent the injured worker if his or her claim is challenged. The attorney could also assist the worker with the complex and sometimes confusing application process for workers’ compensation benefits.

Source: KMSP-TV, “Worker electrocuted on CapX2020 power line near Fairfax, Minn.,” Iris Perez, July 28, 2014

Source: CBS Minnesota, “2 Workers Shocked, 1 Fatally, Near Fairfax“, July 28, 2014

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