Anyone who works in the New York and New Jersey construction industry knows that jobsite accidents are common. Despite government regulations and oversight by agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, construction sites continue to be among the most dangerous workplaces in the country. This comes as no surprise to the millions of construction workers across the country. Construction, by the very nature of the work itself, requires workers to use dangerous equipment, operate heavy machinery, and work in places that are considered high risk.
As a response to the number of injuries and deaths that are caused each year by falls at construction sites, a new “Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction” has recently been launched.
A construction fall can seriously injury or kill the victim. The statistics regarding construction falls are daunting. In fact, falls are the No. 1 cause of fatalities, accounting for a whopping one-third of all fatalities within the construction industry each year. Furthermore, over 10,000 construction workers are injured each year in the United States as a result of falls on the job, and another 200 workers suffer fatal injuries in falls.
A construction fall can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. The most common, and most dangerous are falls from rooftops, falls from ladders and falls from scaffolding. Very strict regulations are in place that are intended to protect workers while they are working on roofs, climbing ladders or working on scaffolding. Even when employers follow these rules to the letter, accidents can still happen. Unfortunately, some employers are not as vigilant about safety regulations as they should be, making an already dangerous occupation a potentially lethal one.
The Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction is a joint effort that involves CPWR, NIOSH and OSHA, as well as state government and private industry. Numerous trade associations, labor organizations and various universities are also involved in the campaign. The stated goals of the campaign are to PLAN ahead to do the job safely, PROVIDE the right equipment to do the job safely and TRAIN everyone to use safety equipment properly. The concept behind the campaign is to raise awareness among both workers and employers of the risk of falls and to provide training and education on how to prevent them.
If you are a construction worker and you have been injured in a construction fall, or if you are a family member of a construction worker who was killed in a construction fall, you may have remedies under the law. Just as there are numerous entities and individuals involved in a construction site, there are just as many entities or individuals who may be financially responsible for injuries you suffered as a result of the fall. If you are a family member of someone who was fatally injured in a construction fall, the same applies to you–many people, from the property owner to the general contractor and even the liability carrier, may be held responsible for the loss you have suffered.
Although the workers’ compensation system may be the best avenue to pursue for your injuries, you may have other options as well under the law. The only way to know for sure what your legal options are and whether or not you are entitled to compensation is to consult with an experienced construction accident attorney as soon as possible. There are time frames within which you must pursue your legal remedies, so don’t delay.
Call the NY / NJ construction accident lawyers at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., at 888-446-2783 for your free consultation, or fill out our online contact form.