• 24
  • October
    2011

Almost one year and a half ago a North Carolina man suffered major injuries at work when a partially built building collapsed in Burlington, North Carolina. Today he is still adjusting to life, trying to get by on workers' compensation and hoping that he will still fully recover from his injuries. Even though the man was a victim of a workplace injury, the experience has made the man and his family feel like they are to blame for what occurred.

Before his injury the man was an employee of a contracting company. The man liked his job and would work between 40 hours to 80 hours per week. Almost 16 months ago the man suffered serious injuries when he was involved in a partial building collapse in Burlington.

The injuries caused by the collapse of a metal beam left the man out of work and without reliable income. Unfortunately, the man also did not have health insurance and he and his family had to survive on savings and help from family.

More than one year after the workplace injury, the man was diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome by doctors, and he is no longer able to enjoy activities he was able to enjoy before the accident. He cannot play with his children as he used to because it is still difficult for the man to use his legs. His legs also swell for hours from time-to-time.

The man also used to enjoy riding his motorcycle but after the incident he sold it to help his family get by financially.

Workers' compensation has been working with the man and his family, but the family feels like there has been a lack of sympathy through the process.

The North Carolina Department of Labor issued four serious citations for unsafe working conditions against the company the man worked for; however, the company has not been required to report the incident to the Occupational Health and Safety Division of the N.C. Department of Labor because reports are only required if three or more workers are injured.

The man hopes another worker is not hurt because of similar conditions.

Source: thetimesnews.com, "Worker injured in accident wants others to avoid his fate," Elizabeth Everett, Oct. 14, 2011