Fall Injuries a Leading Cause of Death on Construction Sites
Few American workers are at risk of injury as often as those on construction sites. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that, among all workplace injuries that occur nationwide each year, over 20% occur on construction sites. Among those fatal injuries, nearly 40% were the result of falls. Learn more about some of the most common causes of fall injuries on construction sites, and take caution to ensure that your contractor or site supervisor does not skimp on protections for your safety that could save your life.
Leading causes of job site fall injuries include:
- Poorly-Constructed Scaffolding
Scaffolding materials are often provided, and the scaffolding is frequently constructed, by an independent contractor. These materials may be old and worn-down, no longer able to withstand the weight of workers and their tools. The scaffolding also may have been hastily thrown together, with bolts and joints left loose and prone to falling apart.
- Faulty Use or Failure to Use Guardrails or Other Hole Protections
Many times, a trench, hole, or shaft is created on a work site, but in their haste to further progress on the job, site supervisors fail to install protections from falls around these hazards. Any open hole or trench on a worksite must be protected either by a net or guardrails, and failure to do so is a violation of federal law—one which has led to many workers losing their lives.
- Improper Use of Ladders
OSHA has issued precise rules on the build specifications for ladders to be used on job sites, as well as regulations on the manner in which ladders should and should not be used, and when workers are required to wear additional safety equipment while on a ladder of a particular height. Workers are frequently not issued appropriate training on ladder use, such as ways to ensure that the ladder is on a flat and stable surface. Supervisors may also encourage workers to get the job done faster and not to waste time on proper ladder placement. These safety slights can put workers’ health and well-being in peril.
If you have been injured by a fall or other accident on a work site and need help recovering compensation for your injuries, contact the determined and knowledgeable Biloxi construction accident attorney Corban Gunn for a consultation on your case, at 228.284.6805.
