Fall injuries are the number one cause of fatal workplace accidents in the construction field. For this reason, officials are particularly careful to ensure that companies adhere to standards that seek to prevent these types of construction accidents. One local company is feeling the brunt of this enforcement now, as they have been ordered to pay thousands in fines for failing to correct safety violations.

According to a press release from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), Three Brothers Co. LLC has been cited with five repeat and one serious violation for problems found at a Maplewood work site.

Their violations include failing to safely assemble and use scaffolding. Safety measures for scaffolding include providing a base plate, fall protection and adequate bracing, as well as ensuring that cross braces are not used to access the scaffold. In addition, the company had assembled the scaffold too close to power lines, which accounted for its one serious violation.

In all, the company is facing over $50,000 in fines.

“Scaffolding is an essential tool for the type of work this company was doing. When working from scaffolding, fall protection is a basic and required safeguard. There’s no reason for an employer’s failure to have proper and effective protections in place and in use at all times at all job sites,” said OSHA’s area director Kris Hoffman. “OSHA will continue to hold employees accountable when they fail to provide safe and healthful workplaces for employees.”

The violations were discovered when an investigation was triggered by a referral from a utility company. Electric company officials may have alerted OSHA when they saw the scaffold close to the power lines.

Companies have a duty to keep workers safe. Sometimes they do this willingly, being careful to adhere to safety regulations and laws. At other times, there are oversights, or companies value speed over safety. When this occurs, accidents are far more likely to happen.

Fortunately for workers, when an accident happens because of a failure on the part of an employer, coworker, or property owner, someone can be held responsible for the injuries that result.

New Jersey and New York Construction Accident Attorneys

If you’ve been seriously injured in a construction accident, the construction injury lawyers of Ginarte may be able to help. Our attorneys seek justice for people who are hurt in situations beyond their control. Contact us today to discuss your accident and the legal options available to you. Call (888) GINARTE now.