Tragedy struck on Monday October 2, 2023 in the Maple Springs mine near Hollsopple, Pennsylvania when an employee was killed in a workplace accident. The employee, Brandon Frederick, 37, was declared dead at the scene after sustaining multiple blunt force injuries while working in the mine owned by LTC Energy.
Frederick was working in the mine when he became trapped between a mine shuttle car and the interior wall of the mine itself. At the time Frederick was part of a four person crew working underground. The rest of Frederick’s crew, all licensed emergency medical technicians, assessed Frederick’s condition in the mine and brought him to the surface where he succumbed to his injuries.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration are conducting separate but coordinated investigations into the death of Frederick. In the meantime, the Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the operators of the Conemaugh Township mine to temporarily cease operations in the section in which Frederick died.
This is the second death in two years at the same mine. In 2022, scoop operator Paul Springer of Somerset, was killed when a falling boulder struck him while he was working underground. In that incident, Federal Investigators filed a final report stating that the mine workers present at the time were unable to detect the risk of the boulder falling due to its shape and lack of any visible cracks. As a result of that incident, LTC Energy modified its roof control plan.
Unfortunately, workplace accidents happen all the time. In 2021, there were over 5,000 workplace fatalities in the United States. Many of these accidents are preventable. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a workplace accident, it is important to contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options. A lawyer can help you investigate the accident to determine who was responsible and what safety measures were in place. They can also help you file a claim with OSHA and pursue compensation for your injuries or the loss of your loved one.
At Spagnoletti Law Firm, our experienced lawyers have handled workplace personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits of all kinds and have the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured. The experienced workplace personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an accident in the workplace.
Our lawyers have represented numerous workers who have sustained serious and catastrophic injuries on a job site as a result of the negligence of another party. There are strict and short time limits on making claims, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.