"Police say weather was not a factor in the accident, as it was raining."
I call Bull Shit.
This was a senseless death that could have and should have been avoided.
No sign company should ever send their employees out to a job site if it's raining. If there is even a possibility of rain in the forecast I will call the customer and simply explain that we don't work in the rain, period. I've never had a customer complain about that. Not even when it set back a deadline install that absolutely has to be up on the wall TODAY! Rain changes everything. I've driven hundreds of miles to a job site, many times, only to get there and cancel the job due to rain. Even a slight drizzle is grounds for packing up the tools and heading back to the shop. I've lost hundreds of dollars in gas and employee wages, many times, due to rain cancellations. And I would gladly lose hundreds more rather than risk injury to myself, my wife, or an employee.
Rain = Reschedule.
My condolences to the sign guy's family and friends.