Three Minnesota construction workers were injured on site at a church early on the morning of Sept. 20. The workers, employed by Nor-Son, had been working at Timberwood Church in Nisswa when multiple trusses collapsed. At the time of the accident, about eight to 10 employees and sub-contractors were on site at the location where a new addition is being built for the church. The addition is designed to be 18,000 square feet and will include space for a worship center and a gathering location.
All three workers were taken to the hospital, but none is in critical condition. The pastor of Timberwood Church said that he and the congregation will keep the workers and their families in their thoughts and prayers, and he rejoiced that no lives were lost as a result of the accident. A Nisswa Police Department spokesman said that the employees had been “alert and conscious” and able to walk and talk before being taken to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center.
Nor-Son’s director of operations said that the company’s first priority is to ensure that the workers and their families are taken care of. He said that the company’s second priority will be to determine how the accident took place.
The company issued a public statement saying that the matter is under review and that Nor-Son takes work accident injuries seriously. Nor-Son reinforced that its employees have a “proven track record for outstanding safety in the workplace.” When an employee is injured on the job, that employee may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Under workers’ compensation laws, employers are expected to pay their employees for time that they are unable to work, as well as for their medical bills. Workers compensation attorneys may help employees get the payments they deserve from their employers.
Source: Brainerd Dispatch, “Three workers injured when trusses collapse at Timberwood Church”, Mike O’Rourke, September 20, 2013
