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Tragic construction worker accident at Connecticut airport

Deaths connected to plane crashes are often front-page stories. They typically involve a large number of fatalities and attention-grabbing images. Airports, not just airplanes, can also present the possibility of danger, particularly when construction is ongoing. One family knows this all too well following a loved one’s death while performing construction work at the Sikorsky Memorial Airport outside of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The man who died following the airport construction accident was in a trench cutting a water main with a gasoline-powered saw. The saw kicked back and injured the construction worker in the neck. He died at the scene. The deceased man, age 57, had been working for the construction company for almost 20 years.

Following the early-morning construction site accident, the airport suspended air traffic in and out of the airport for the majority of the day while the police performed their investigation. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is also investigating the tragic incident. The man was performing work in connection with an overall safety upgrade that is ongoing at the Sikorsky Memorial Airport.

The nature of this machinery accident in which the saw “kicked back” suggests the possibility of a defective power tool. Whether the accident was due to the conditions in which the man was working, the equipment, or his use of the equipment, remains to be seen.

It is important to note that there are many types of construction accidents, most of which do not prove fatal. For those construction workers who survive serious power tool accidents or other construction site accidents, workers’ compensation benefits may provide an option for much-needed financial assistance. Construction sites can present many dangers to workers, but fortunately, there are resources available following accidents, and it can prove valuable to be aware of the options.

Source: NBC Connecticut, “Police ID Man Killed in Construction Accident at Sikorsky Airport,” June 26, 2015

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