Uploaded February 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Workplace fatalities and serious injuries have a tremendous impact on the community. While coworkers and friends must also cope with the unexpected tragedy, no one is more affected than the families. These families have a special need to understand the death of their spouse, parent, son, daughter, or fiancé. For many family members, grief persists and is unresolved unless all available information about the circumstances of the work-related fatality or injury is shared in a timely manner. Unfortunately, when a loved one is injured or dies on the job families do not know where to turn for answers. Current legislation ignores the rights of family members to be involved in the investigative process, and investigative government agencies, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), are complex and highly bureaucratic. Workers' compensation systems are equally complicated. Not surprisingly, families too often find little support from government officials when they inquire into how the workplace incident occurred. Fortunately, OSHA, in
April 2012, adopted its internal Guidance - Communicating OSHA Fatality Inspection Procedures to a Victim's Family -- for improving its communication with the next of kin following a workplace fatality. OSHA now places a high priority on communicating with families after a workplace fatality. Care is tot be taken to ensure sensitivity and tact are exercised during all communications. Interactions with the next of kin can typically be accomplished by using a "three- phase approach" which includes: an initial communication; follow-up communications throughout the inspection; and post-inspection communications. This will ensure that OSHA receives the necessary information about the victim, job history, co-workers, and keeps the next of kin informed from the beginning of the inspection and through the progression of the inspection until the case is either closed or becomes a final order of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. See the entire guidance at osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02-00-153.pdf . The United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) was formed in 2004 to support individuals, companies and other organizations dealing with the repercussions of a worker's death and/or injury. USMWF also aims to prevent future workplace tragedies. See their Workplace Tragedy Family Bill of Rights at usmwf.org/family/Family%20Bill%20of%20Rights%20-%2010%2011%2007.pdf , On April 23, 1987, the L' Ambiance Plaza building under construction in Bridgeport, Connecticut, collapsed killing 28 construction workers. This was the largest loss of life in a U.S. construction accident since 51 workmen were killed in the collapse of a reinforced concrete cooling tower under construction at Willow Island, Vest Virginia, in 1978. The probable cause of the collapse was determined to be loss of support at a lifting jack in the west tower during placement of a package of three upper level floor slabs. All the floor slabs fell, trapping the employees involved in the lifting operation and those on lower floors engaged in other phases of the construction. OSHA imposed a record $5.11 million in fines against companies it charged with responsibility for the collapse. Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA John Pendergrass said a six-month investigation had found ''a pattern of sloppy construction practices throughout the project and an overall sense of employer complacency for essential workplace safety considerations.''
Workplace fatalities and serious injuries have a tremendous impact on the community. While coworkers and friends must also cope with the unexpected tragedy, no one is more affected than the families. These families have a special need to understand the death of their spouse, parent, son, daughter, or fiancé. For many family members, grief persists and is unresolved unless all available information about the circumstances of the work-related fatality or injury is shared in a timely manner. Unfortunately, when a loved one is injured or dies on the job families do not know where to turn for answers. Current legislation ignores the rights of family members to be involved in the investigative process, and investigative government agencies, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), are complex and highly bureaucratic. Workers' compensation systems are equally complicated. Not surprisingly, families too often find little support from government officials when they inquire into how the workplace incident occurred. Fortunately, OSHA, in
April 2012, adopted its internal Guidance - Communicating OSHA Fatality Inspection Procedures to a Victim's Family -- for improving its communication with the next of kin following a workplace fatality. OSHA now places a high priority on communicating with families after a workplace fatality. Care is tot be taken to ensure sensitivity and tact are exercised during all communications. Interactions with the next of kin can typically be accomplished by using a "three- phase approach" which includes: an initial communication; follow-up communications throughout the inspection; and post-inspection communications. This will ensure that OSHA receives the necessary information about the victim, job history, co-workers, and keeps the next of kin informed from the beginning of the inspection and through the progression of the inspection until the case is either closed or becomes a final order of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. See the entire guidance at osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02-00-153.pdf . The United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) was formed in 2004 to support individuals, companies and other organizations dealing with the repercussions of a worker's death and/or injury. USMWF also aims to prevent future workplace tragedies. See their Workplace Tragedy Family Bill of Rights at usmwf.org/family/Family%20Bill%20of%20Rights%20-%2010%2011%2007.pdf , On April 23, 1987, the L' Ambiance Plaza building under construction in Bridgeport, Connecticut, collapsed killing 28 construction workers. This was the largest loss of life in a U.S. construction accident since 51 workmen were killed in the collapse of a reinforced concrete cooling tower under construction at Willow Island, Vest Virginia, in 1978. The probable cause of the collapse was determined to be loss of support at a lifting jack in the west tower during placement of a package of three upper level floor slabs. All the floor slabs fell, trapping the employees involved in the lifting operation and those on lower floors engaged in other phases of the construction. OSHA imposed a record $5.11 million in fines against companies it charged with responsibility for the collapse. Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA John Pendergrass said a six-month investigation had found ''a pattern of sloppy construction practices throughout the project and an overall sense of employer complacency for essential workplace safety considerations.''
