About one (1) in five (5) on the job fatalities in the U.S. are suffered in the construction industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified the most dangerous situations for construction workers, which they have dubbed the “fatal four”. Today, we will be discussing construction’s fatal four, why these particular areas are so dangerous, and how industry professionals can best protect themselves from harm. If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
Call our office today for a free and confidential consultation regarding your construction accident, your related traumatic injuries, and your potential personal injury claim.
About 13 construction workers die each day in the United States. In 2015, a staggering 64.2 percent of construction fatalities were caused by one of the following:
Part of what makes falls so dangerous in particular is how prevalent working at heights is in the construction industry. It is estimated that falls of just six (6) or more feet have the possibility of being fatal under certain circumstances. Many industry veterans are accustomed to working high up, but the danger of injury is always present if proper precautions are not met.
The number one (1) most cited OSHA violation is failure to provide adequate fall protection in the construction industry. This should come as no great surprise considering we have already established falls as the primary culprit in construction accidents leading to wrongful death. So what can employers, workers, and business owners do in order to provide safer working environments? According to the OSHA, this three step system may prevent further accidents:
Plan the project from beginning to end, taking heights and their associated danger into consideration. If the job includes working at heights, which almost all do, factor in the cost and logistics of proper safety equipment so that they are immediately available when construction begins.
Provide adequate safety equipment, including fall protection, proper equipment for the job at hand, ladders, safety gear, scaffolds, etc. Selecting the correct equipment is also crucial, as ladders and scaffolding come in many different forms for different intended uses.
Train all workers so that they can set up and monitor safety equipment while on the job. It is vital that all workers understand how to identify dangerous situations, how to handle those situations, and when the best course of action is to cease working.
The personal injury attorneys of Cohen & Riechelson understand that even in a world where every precaution is taken, accidents will happen. However, we also believe that those injured in construction accidents due to negligent or reckless actions of other parties should be duly compensated for their loss. Our legal team has over four decades of experience representing clients injured in construction accidents in New Jersey towns including Trenton, Lawrence, Hamilton, New Brunswick, Princetown, and the greater Mercer County region. Lean on the experience we have built through reaching successful verdicts and settlements for our clients since 1972.
Contact us online or give us a call through our Hamilton offices by dialing (609) 528-2596 today for a free and confidential consultation regarding your construction accident injury and to discuss how we can best serve your needs.
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