Falls are the leading cause of construction worker injuries and deaths. Whether you work on residential rooftops or around trenching projects, there is always the risk of falling. It’s the responsibility of employers to ensure that their employees are given the proper training and equipment to avoid such an accident. When they fail to do this, they can be held responsible. [Read more…]
Is the Supermarket Responsible for Your Slip and Fall?
The mere happening of an accident is not proof of negligence. McCombe v. Public Service Railway Co. 95 N.J.L. 187; Donus v. Public Service Railway Co., 102 N.J.L. 644. “Negligence is a fact which must be proved; it will not be presumed.” Id. [Read more…]
Deaths, Injuries at Construction Sites Often Caused by Falls
A construction worker was injured recently when he fell four feet while hanging drywall at Margaritaville, a new beachfront resort and casino in Atlantic City, N.J., the South Jersey Times reported. The worker reportedly lost consciousness as a result of the fall. He was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment. [Read more…]
Construction Workers Often Risk Falls
Two workers were seriously injured recently in the collapse of a three-story, two-family home under construction in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn. WNBC in New York reported that a truck was unloading cinderblocks when the plywood roof structure apparently collapsed. [Read more…]
Common Causes of Construction Injuries Include Cranes and Falls
Yet another crane accident in New Jersey sent a tree trimmer to the hospital with injuries recently. According to a news report, the accident occurred in Haddonfield when the crane toppled as it lowered chunks of a tree that was being removed from beside a home. A tree trimmer who was more than two stories up at the time was thrown onto the roof below. In addition, the operator of the crane was trapped inside the vehicle for more than an hour because a nearby power line was torn down and exposed. The operator of the crane was not injured; however, the tree trimmer suffered a fractured leg in the fall. The accident was being investigated by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to determine whether any workplace safety regulations were violated. [Read more…]
Construction Accident Statistics Show Extent of Workplace Fatalities
Anyone who works in the construction industry already knows that it can be a dangerous. In 2011, 721 construction accidents in the private sector resulted in the deaths of construction workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number was down 7 percent from 2010. [Read more…]
Accidents Up, Oversight Down on New York City Construction Sites
Official statistics confirm what workers in the New York City construction industry already know: The number of accidents and injuries on New York City construction sites is increasing at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, as the Daily News reported recently, this is occurring at a time when oversight of construction sites has reached an all-time low. The relationship between the two seems apparent. [Read more…]
OSHA Urges Employers to Prepare for Winter Storms
Many New England states were just recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy when a record-breaking winter storm hit the area. Over the February 9 weekend, Mother Nature dumped as much as a three feet of snow, coupled with high winds, causing power outages, flight cancellations, and more than a dozen deaths. To remind everyone that winter is far from over, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued advice to employers about the importance of keeping employees safe during winter storms. [Read more…]
Falls Pose Major Risk on Construction Sites
The construction industry consistently ranks among those with the most workplace accidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And falls are among the most common causes of injuries among construction workers. [Read more…]
Winter Heightens Risk of Slip-and-Fall Injuries at New York/New Jersey Construction Sites
As everyone in New York or New Jersey knows all too well, winter often brings freezing rain, ice and snow to the area. Roads, walkways and other surfaces can turn into a sheet of ice in the blink of an eye. For most people, donning winter snow boots and limiting time outdoors help prevent injuries; however, for construction workers, keeping off the ice and snow is not an option. [Read more…]