Jose Santos Velasquez Killed in Work Accident in Addison, TX
Addison, TX — November 26, 2024, Jose Santos Velasquez was fatally injured as the result of a work accident along Airport Parkway.
Initial details about the accident from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the incident happened just off Addison Road and Keller Springs Road outside the Addison Airport.
From OSHA, it appears that 51-year-old Jose Santos Velasquez was working at an elevated position. A truss reportedly gave way, causing Jose Santos Velasquez to fall and suffer serious injuries. According to OSHA, Jose Santos Velasquez died from his injuries on December 5, 2024.
The OSHA report lists one alleged violation, labeled "willful," as well as a recommended penalty. Additional details are unavailable.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
It's not all the time you see officials allege that there was a "willful" violation at a job site. What does that mean? This excerpt is from OSHA's own website:
"A willful violation is defined as a violation in which the employer either knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement (purposeful disregard) or acted with plain indifference to employee safety."
Having OSHA allege that something like that was found after this fatal accident obviously raises serious concerns. Has there been a history of mistakes with this employer? Did workers express concerns about unsafe conditions to their families? Have any other workers been hurt on this job site?
Ultimately, OSHA may allege violations and recommend penalties, but they might not actually dig into the full story beyond what they deem is strictly necessary. As such, families often have outside investigators come in to turn over every stone and get clearer answers than what most OSHA investigations provide. Were those steps ever taken here?
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