Whiting, Indiana - Subcontracted Construction Worker Falls To His Death At BP Refinery

BP Conducting Investigation After Tragic Worker Death In Construction At Its Whiting Site

An unidentified worker was killed around noon on Wednesday, October 2nd when he fell from about 30 feet while working at BP’s refinery. Few details have been released at this point, though it has been reported that the victim was treated by on-site medics. He would be pronounced dead later on.

Over the last couple of months, construction had been taking place at the refinery site, which sits adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is part of an ongoing $300 million project mandated by new federal regulations.

Michael Abendoff, a spokesperson for BP, said in a statement” Our thoughts go out to [the victim’s] family and co-workers during this difficult time.” Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura also offered his condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.

It is not yet known why a safety harness was not being used, or if it was, why it may have failed. BP is conduction an internal investigation of the incident to determine its cause and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Jeff Gibson, contributor, and experienced construction death attorney, had the following commentary to share with victims and families of victims who are exploring legal options after a construction fall:

“Falls are the most common cause of death in the United States’ construction industry as reported by OSHA, the Occupational Health & Safety Administration. It’s not difficult to understand why, though.

If you look around any job site, you’re likely to see many falling hazards. Whether it involves open holes in flooring, ladders, and of course the ever-present scaffold, construction workers are constantly in danger.

Unfortunately, when these falls occur, they tend to be very serious as falling on a construction site is very different from a fall on an icy sidewalk, for example. The consequences of the fall are usually grave injuries that are likely to change the lives of the victims who suffer them.

Medical expenses following a construction site fall can quickly become overwhelming, as treatment can go on for months, and victims are often unable to return to work. The families of victims are then left to carry all the weight, at the same time in which they must cope with the trauma and try to heal.

In these difficult times, an experienced construction fall attorney can prove quite helpful. They can analyze the circumstances around a case, and help explain all of the options on the table for the victim and their families.”

Source

https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/construction-worker-dies-in-accident-at-bp-whiting-refinery/article_79ce0dd7-6498-5640-86ee-ca42a5ab3a2d.html