Construction Accidents

Every year, thousands of construction workers are injured or killed in workplace accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has compiled a list of the leading occupational hazards to construction workers. This list includes:

• Falls – Falls from elevated heights result in the greatest number of fatalities for the construction industry.
• Stairways and Ladders
• Scaffolding
• Electrical
• Trenching and Excavation
• Motor Vehicle Safety or Highway Work Zones

Additionally, many individuals are injured or killed due to crane accidents, falling objects and faulty equipment.

According to the most recent research by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry still reports more occupational deaths than any other industry. Due to the riskiness of the construction industry, OSHA has implemented safety rules to ensure that construction workers have a safe place to work. These rules and regulations include guidelines for fall protection, proper use of ladders, ground-fault protection, ladder maintenance, slip protection, guardrail heights and many others. OSHA also has regulations requiring employers to provide training and education for workers who are presented with certain hazards.

Almost all occupational injuries suffered by workers at construction sites can result in the employee receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation is not always enough to put an injured worker back in the financial position he was prior to the accident. Depending on the circumstances, there are also times when an injured construction worker has the right to recover damages from other individuals responsible for the worker’s injuries. Often, a general contractor, building or property owner, or equipment manufacturer may be liable for a worker’s injuries.

For example, New York Labor Law §240 places a duty on contractors and property owners to provide proper protective equipment (including scaffolds, ladders, harnesses, tie-offs, hoists, etc.) to workers at elevated heights. Additionally, those individuals and companies responsible for the safety of the work site have a duty to instruct the employees of the proper safety equipment and the safe way to perform a dangerous job. If a worker is not provided proper protective equipment or safety training, he or she may be entitled to recover a personal injury settlement from those responsible.

To contact a qualified personal injury attorney, contact toll-free 800-374-2144 or use the convenient web contact form.