An industrial accident at a New Jersey processing plant killed a Philadelphia man. The accident highlights the dangers faced by employees who work at industrial sites.

Emergency personnel, responding to a call at the Safeway Freezer Storage plant in Vineland in New Jersey, found Felipe Rodriguez, a 28-year-old worker, dead at the scene. First responders found the body in the refrigerated area of the plant. It had been removed from machinery before the responders arrived.

Workers in manufacturing plants, shipping depots, gas and oil refineries and other industrial sites face risks of injuries from machinery they operate and equipment they use. Because of the material industrial plants handle, explosions can occur, or the worker can be exposed to hazardous materials.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes standards for industrial sites. OSHA requires safe facilities, protective gear and equipment, and adequate training. But accidents still happen and serious injuries, sometimes fatal, result. Some of the most serious injuries in industrial accidents include traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.

Under New Jersey’s workers’ compensation law, an injured worker gets a portion of his or her wages, and the employer must pay any medical expenses. If a worker dies in an industrial accident, his or her family gets death benefits. The injured worker can also file a lawsuit against a third party, such as the manufacturer of a machine, who caused the accident and recover damages that include all of his or her lost wages as well as compensation for pain and suffering. The employer receives reimbursement for the payment of workers’ compensation benefits.

Did you suffer an injury on the job? Talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer at Petrillo and Goldberg at 856.249.9295 or visit https://www.petrilloandgoldberg.com/.