A teenage boy who was helping at a New Jersey construction site fell to his death last week. The boy, a 15-year-old, who was volunteering at the Hindu temple BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, fell about 45 feet to the ground from the ceiling of the temple.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene of the accident, and they performed CPR on the boy. They took him to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, but doctors were unable to save him. Doctors pronounced him dead about an hour after they arrived at the medical facility.
At this point, authorities are not entirely clear about how the young man died. Police in Robbinsville, New Jersey, are still investigating the incident, which they are describing as a “tragic accident.” In addition to local authorities, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also investigating what happened.
The Hindu temple where the accident happened is famous for being one of the largest Hindu temples in the United States. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir has released a statement expressing its heartbroken sentiments regarding the tragedy, saying that it will keep cooperating with investigators regarding the accident.
When fatal workplace accidents involve a volunteer in New Jersey, dependent family members might not be able to pursue workers’ compensation death benefits. However, there are some types of volunteers who are covered by the state’s workers’ compensation system. These include:
- Volunteer firefighters
- Volunteer rescue workers
- Auxiliary and reserve police
- Unpaid elected and/or appointed officials
- Members of the board of education
In addition to the above, if the volunteer received any kind of financial compensation for his or her efforts, then he or she may be covered workers’ compensation benefits. By contacting a New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer, injured volunteers can learn more about their legal rights in this regard.
Source: Montgomery News, “Hatfield teen falls to his death at Hindu temple in New Jersey,” David Foster, Aug. 21, 2017
