Safety concerns | Why the gruesome death of an airport worker should raise alarm bells for HR

Health and safety was thrust into the spotlight this week, when news broke of a devastating workplace fatality in the US.

Reports claimed that an airport worker was killed after being "sucked" into the active jet engine of an airplane, clearly raising some serious questions about the employer's practices. 

Initial reports claimed the employee had 'unintentionally' stepped in front of the live engine of the Delta Air Lines plane on Friday, resulting in their unfortunate death. However, medical examiners have since ruled the man's death a suicide. 

According to the US National Transportation Safety Board, the incident happened in the late evening, when a plane arriving from Los Angeles was taxiing down the runway.