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A tragic workplace accident claimed the life of a Southern California Edison worker on April 25, according to ABC7. The worker, identified as 38-year-old Jose Raul Ros, was working with underground equipment in Menifee, California when an explosion killed him and injured three others. Ros was performing maintenance work in an underground vault that powers a nearby facility.
“The boom sounded like maybe somebody was in an accident, or somebody ran into something, that was my first thought,” said witness Dave Arnold, who lives near the site. “It’s sad, these are utility workers, and they have a job to do, but if it’s a malfunction, or human error, you just don’t know.”
It will not be long before the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sends officials to inspect the worksite. If Southern California Edison was in violation of any federal safety regulations, it could be held accountable for this fatal accident.
Underground construction and trenching accidents are some of the most deadly workplace accidents. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 271 workers were killed in trenching and excavation accidents between 2000 and 2006.
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits. Call our firm at (614) 221-7548 for a free consultation.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus workers comp lawyers