22-Year-Old Worker in Norfolk Killed in Industrial Accident | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A 22-year-old industrial worker for J.W. Hill and Son Roofing Company in Norfolk, Virginia (VA) was killed when the fiberglass skylight he was working on at East Coast Repair and Fabrications broke. As a result, the worker plummeted 30 feet to his death, according to WAVY.

This is one of those accidents which remind us how fragile life is. One moment, the worker was putting down sealant at his job and the next moment, he was gone. My deepest condolences go out to the friends and family of this young worker. The grieving process isn’t easy, but staying focused on positive memories can help.

Sadly, the loss of life from industrial accidents is not uncommon in the U.S. There were 5,071 fatal industrial accidents in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Approximately 680 of those accidents involved a fatal fall.

The details surrounding this fatal industrial accident are still unclear. We don’t know what exactly caused the glass to break or if anything could have been done to prevent this incident from occurring. The investigation continues.