Final answer:
The deceased man's family would primarily be entitled to workers' compensation death benefits. Additionally, they might be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits if he had enough work credits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The benefits that the family of the 43-year-old man who was killed in a warehouse explosion while at work would be entitled to fall under workers' compensation. This insurance, mandated by law, requires employers to contribute a percentage of salaries into state-run funds that provide benefits to workers or their families when an injury or death occurs on the job. Since the situation involves a fatal workplace accident, workers' compensation would typically offer death benefits to the deceased worker's dependents, which could include burial expenses and compensation for the loss of income.
In some cases, depending on eligibility and the specific rules of the Social Security system, the man's widow or dependent children may also receive survivor benefits through Social Security if the deceased had accrued enough work credits. Although the request for benefits such as short-term disability, long-term disability, or protections under the Family Medical Leave Act would not apply posthumously, the survivor benefits may provide ongoing financial assistance.