Construction workers often work under extremely hazardous conditions. Not surprisingly, the construction industry consistently has the second highest number of work-related accidents, behind only the transportation industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. Along with the myriad of other hazards that can cause injuries on a construction site, mobile construction equipment stands out as a leading cause.

The New York State Department of Health considers the risk of injury or death for workers who work around mobile equipment or machinery to be serious enough that they have posted a warning on the website. The warning includes a description of a fatal accident involving mobile machinery:

“A machine operator who worked for a liquid deicer distributing company was killed when he was run over by a front-end loader at a city salt stockyard. He was walking around the loader working area performing conveyer maintenance. A city equipment operator backed the loader out of a storage shed and struck the victim. The loader was missing two side-rearview mirrors and the victim was not wearing a high visibility safety vest. Also, there was no radio communication between the victim and the city equipment operators.”

Unfortunately, accidents such as this one occur far too often on construction sites. The United Steelworkers (USW) union considers the threat posed by mobile equipment to be significant enough that they have gathered their own data and issued their own warning to members. According to the USW, there were nine fatalities on USW worksites in 2011 as a result of mobile equipment and foot traffic accidents.

To help you avoid becoming the victim of a mobile equipment/foot traffic accident, the State of New York and the USW offer the following suggestions:

• Use a hierarchy of control method that separates mobile and foot traffic.
• Identify unavoidable blind spots.
• Use safety equipment such as audible alarms and lights.
• Make sure that workers wear high visibility safety vests
• Inspect and maintain all equipment
• Train employees to properly operate equipment
• Warn workers about the dangers and hazards of working around mobile equipment

Despite taking the proper precautions and following all safety rules, accidents can occur where mobile equipment and foot traffic are both found. If you have been injured in a New York or New Jersey mobile equipment or foot traffic construction accident, contact the New York/New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., to find out what legal options you may have.