The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently published a call to the construction industry to join their ongoing campaign: 2018 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction.
What is this campaign?
The campaign is an extension of an ongoing campaign that began in 2012. The efforts focus on encouraging work safety and wise equipment use to reduce the likelihood of a dangerous fall while on-the-job. The agency notes that falls remain the number one cause of death within the construction industry, accounting for one in every three construction work fatalities.
What types of falls are most fatal in the construction industry?
Common causes of falls that result in fatalities include falls from:
- Rooftops
- Ladders
- Scaffolding
- Non-moving vehicles
Falls at construction sites are more than just a national issue, they pose a problem locally in the state of California. The United States Department Of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 64 workers in California killed by falls, slips or trips in 2016.
What options are available for those injured at a construction site or family members that lose a loved one to an on-the-job accident?
Those who are seriously injured or have a loved one who was killed in a construction accident may be eligible to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. A construction accident case can involve a number of different issues depending on who bears responsibility for the accident. In some cases, a third party personal injury lawsuit may apply while in others the best route to compensation is through the workers’ compensation benefit system.
An attorney experienced in construction accidents claims can review the details of your accident and help put together a case that better ensures you receive the compensation you deserve.