Falls, slips and trips consistently rank at the top of the list of causes of fatal construction accidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2011, 666 workers lost their lives as a result of falls, slips or trips, accounting for 14 percent of all workplace fatalities. Most of the deaths involved workers falling to a lower level.
Recently, a construction worker was seriously injured when he fell 12 feet down an elevator shaft, according to a report by the New York Daily News. The accident occurred at the construction site of a NYPD police academy in Queens. Rescue workers used a rescue basket to pull the worker from the shaft.
Despite common misperceptions, even a fall from a relatively low height can be deadly. Investigators were able to record the distance of 451 fatal workplace falls in 2011. Half of the falls occurred at heights between 10 and 30 feet, with only one-fourth occurring at heights over 30 feet. For this reason, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires fall protection for construction workers who at heights of six feet or above. OSHA specifically requires an employer to “guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk using a railing and toe-board or a floor hole cover.” Although we do not know the details of the elevator shaft accident, it may have been the type of scenario that OSHA is trying to prevent with this rule.
Despite OSHA requirements regarding fall protection, construction workers continue to suffer serious, life-threatening injuries as a result of preventable falls. If you have been injured as a result of a construction site fall, you could be entitled to third-party compensation in lieu of, or in addition to, workers’ compensation. All too often, workers’ compensation benefits fail to adequately compensate the victim of a construction accident. Furthermore, there is a chance that someone other than your own employer may have contributed to your injuries.
Contact the New York and New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd to find out what legal options you may have. Contact the firm today by calling 888-446-2783 or filling out our online contact form for your free consultation.