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South Carolina Man Dies in Workplace Accident

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Anderson County Man Dies After Workplace Accident Causes Him to Fall Into Machine

A worker has died after a workplace accident caused him to fall into a metal stamping machine at an Anderson County plant.

The man – 62-year-old Kendall Collier – was working on the machine at 9 AM on Tuesday, January 22nd, at Stanco Metal Products, a factory in Williamston, SC. He lost his footing and fell into the machine, which two of his coworkers were operating.

Stanco Metal Products is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Greg Shore, Anderson County Coroner, says there were safety features on the machine, according to one of the plant manager. However, workplace accident investigators will determine whether the machines’ safeties were working or not.

Shore added, “There was a coworker also helping operate the machine, and right now we’re trying to determine why the safety features on the machine did not cause the machine to shut down with him being so close to it … There are sensors set up around the machine, so right now we’re waiting on OSHA to get here from Columbia to help us determine why that safety feature didn’t work.”

Collier’s fall into the machine caused traumatic head injuries, which he later died from.

According to Shore, the plant manager sent everyone home after the accident.

“The case will continue to be worked and hopefully we can get some answers to the family on what happened and hopefully to the coworkers on why the safety features didn’t work on this machine,” Shore said. “That’s a big question mark right now.”

The Williamston plant had one previous workplace accident, in 2007, when a worker fell off a scissor lift when a crane hit him while he worked on electrical lines. The company was fined $550.

Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Accidents in South Carolina

Workers’ compensation is insurance policy your employer must carry to make sure that employees injured at work can obtain necessary medical treatment and financial assistance after a workplace accident causes physical or mental injury, rendering them unable to work.

By law, every South Carolina employer with four or more full-time employees must have workers compensation insurance.

The protection provided under the South Carolina Workers Comp Act is only the beginning of your right to compensation for a workplace injury.

There are obvious work injuries and not-so obvious work injuries.

§  Physical injury: an accident such as a fall, chemical burn, cut.

§  Repetitive injury: an injury acquired by repeating the same acts over and over through work. This could be accumulative hearing loss, debilitating back pain, carpel tunnel, neck pain. It is recommended to report a repetitive injury as soon as you need to seek medical attention for it.

§  Disease: an occupational disease is one that is acquired because of your job such as lung diseases (ex. Asbestosis) from work environments and hazardous work-related materials, or disease contracted because your work in a hospital.

§  Mental issues: Mental issues from extreme or unusual work conditions or from an ongoing work injury.

The Strom Law Firm, LLC understands the impact that a workplace accident can have – accidents on the job can cause injury or death, which can put you or your loved ones in a risky financial situation, and in emotional crisis.  The most important thing you need to focus on is a speedy recovery. You need an advocate who will seek justice on your behalf. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your workplace accident, and see if you have a case. Do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800.

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