A custodian at a California university was involved in an accident at the school that he says still causes him problems. The man was inside of an elevator back in March when it suddenly dropped and knocked him unconscious. He is now seeking workers’ compensation for the injuries he sustained in the accident.
The man claims to not remember how he got out of the elevator because he blacked out. He was taken to a local hospital for a medical examination. He states the elevator accident caused him neck and back pain, and even now he still feels sharp pains in his body associated with the incident. He is expecting an official diagnosis for his injuries in the next few weeks.
Another custodian who works in the same building stated the elevators constantly break down, and other custodians have become trapped in them, sometimes for over an hour. The college is expected to replace all of the elevators soon. The custodian injured in the accident is still working at the school, but is on light duty. He claims the university should step up and be responsible for the problem because student safety could be affected. Although he still uses the elevators for his job duties, he says he now has panic attacks.
When a California worker sustains an injury in the course of their duties, they often qualify for workers’ compensation. This can help them with the medical costs associated with their injuries and also assist with lost wages while they are physically recovering. Workers’ compensation can sometimes be a tricky program to navigate, but there are several avenues an employee could look to for help with filing for the benefit or to ask questions about potential entitlements.
Source: The Orion, “Butte Hall custodian seeks workers’ compensation after elevator drop,” Pedro Quintana, Dec. 4, 2012