JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

You work with your coworkers on a daily basis, often seeing them as much, if not more than your own friends and family. So what happens when a coworker suffers a deadly accident at work? It is not surprising that the accidental death of a coworker in Philadelphia can result in grief and emotions that are hard to identify and handle.

According to Allison DeLaney, a chaplain at Hospice House and Support Care in Williamsburg, VA, one can grieve “just as deeply” for a coworker as they would for a parent. The depth of grief is tied to the relationship shared with the coworker. Psychologists suggest that groups of individuals experiencing grief should join together to discuss their feelings and mutually support one another.

Especially in industries that see higher fatality rates, it is important for human resources and companies to be prepared. Having a plan for how to handle the death of an employee will give structure to grieving employees and help avoid confusion or missteps such as sharing business information, handling personal effects and reassigning office space or equipment.

According to DeLaney, the sudden nature of a Philadelphia workplace fatality can trigger a greater duration of grief. “There may also be increased levels of fear, in addition to grief, whether the incident is likely to happen again or not,” she added. When this occurs, she suggests a process called “Critical Incident Stress Debriefing” (CISD) which helps individuals handle and process catastrophic events. A team trained in CISD can help offer short-term support for individuals experiencing grief and stress from the sudden death of a coworker.

There is no denying the complex array of emotions that are involved with the death of a coworker. In the event someone you know has been killed in a workplace accident, it is helpful to know there are resources available to help the family financially. Call the Philadelphia workplace fatality attorneys at Mednick, Mezyk & Kredo at 888-807-WORK (9675) for a free consultation.