Construction sites are among the most dangerous places to work. Most fatal injuries at these sites are caused by falls.
Falls that result in death or catastrophic injuries are most likely to involve a significant height. Just this March, a Florida construction worker was killed when he fell 20 feet from an overpass of Interstate 395 in Miami and landed on the ground below.
Certainly, bridge and overpass construction work can be particularly dangerous. So is working in unfinished buildings. Workers often are required to walk on unfinished and otherwise unstable surfaces that could give way or even have coverings that make dangerous holes impossible to see.
Safety equipment makes a difference – if maintained and used properly
Advances in safety equipment, such as scaffold platforms and aerial lifts, as well as personal fall arrest systems like harnesses and connectors, have made it safer to work inside and outside of buildings and other structures. However, that equipment can get worn and damaged. Further, workers must be properly trained to use it and not to exceed any weight limits.
Personal fall arrest systems, like connectors, harnesses and guardrail systems must also be in good condition. Again, workers need to use them correctly – for their own safety and that of others. Even low-tech equipment like extension ladders can be deadly if they aren’t in good condition and used correctly.
Same-level falls can also be catastrophic
While falls from a height are inherently dangerous, same-level falls can be catastrophic and potentially deadly if someone slips or trips and lands on a concrete floor or a piece of heavy or sharp equipment.
A construction-related accident can be devastating for an entire family. Even if the worker survives, they may have life-altering injuries that prevent them from working. It’s critical to seek the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to.
It can feel like the odds are against you when employers and insurers try to deny benefits or even work to prevent a claim from being filed. By getting early, experienced legal guidance, you can better and more successfully navigate the system.