Construction Accidents
Construction Accidents
Whether working on a home project or commercial development, construction work is one of the most dangerous industries in America. Construction workers encounter dangerous conditions daily. Because of this, accident related injuries are very common.
According to the Department of Health and Safety 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, 4,585 workers were killed on the job in 2013. That’s approximately 12 deaths every day!
In 2013, 817 Hispanic or Latino workers were killed from work-related injuries. That’s approximately two Latino workers killed in construction-related accidents every single day. In the same year, fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 16 percent of all reported fatal work injuries.
One in five deaths that account for private worker-related accidents occurs in construction. The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were falls, followed by being struck by an object, electrocution, and being caught in between heavy objects or materials. These four factors were responsible for more than half the construction worker deaths in 2013.
TOP 10 MOST FREQUENTLY CITED OSHA STANDARDS VIOLATED IN FY2014
The following were the top 10 most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA in 2014:
- Fall protection
- Hazard communication standard
- Scaffolding, general requirements
- Respiratory protection
- Powered industrial trucks
- Control of hazardous energy
- Ladders
- Electrical
- Machinery and machine guarding
- Electrical systems design
If you or someone you know has been involved in a construction accident, it is very important you contact a skilled and experienced construction accident attorney. Issues that often come up are compliance with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) regulations, product liability, and general negligence standards. Parties that could be liable for the accident can be the property owner, general contractor, product manufacturer, subcontractors, managers, and even engineers or architects. The underlying theme for all of the potential responsible parties is that they must maintain a reasonably safe workplace for the construction workers, and provide workers with reasonably safe tools to perform their intended work.
If you’ve been involved in a construction accident, remember to:
- Document all your injuries and what caused your accident immediately (use your cell phone!)
- Seek medical attention ASAP
- Report the accident to a supervisor and make sure you get a copy of any report
- Get a co-worker or any witness to the accident to give you a statement, or at least their contact info for future reference.
- Take as many pictures as possible; this is all evidence that is essential later.
- Don’t be intimidated! You have the same rights as any other American and you do not have to suffer because of someone else’s negligence!
Construction accidents are a serious matter, and when you need personal injury attorneys, get in touch with Halpern & Associates right away.