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On behalf of Bryan Snyder at Law Office of Bryan R. Snyder, APC

Construction falls are both deadly and preventable.

If you are a construction worker you probably think a fall or other accident won’t happen to you. Unfortunately, statistics from the Bureau of Labor demonstrate deadly construction falls are much more common they you may expect. Almost 300 people lost their lives in construction falls across the U.S. in 2013, and many more were injured. Falls account for about one-third of all construction industry deaths.

California experiences a high number of construction fatalities with 54 recorded in 2013. Of those, 13 fell into the “falls, slips or trips” category.

Construction falls are preventable

Falls from ladders, scaffolding and roofs are some of the most frequent. It is important to remember that all construction falls are preventable. The large scope of the problem has prompted the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to put forward a national fall prevention outreach campaign: Plan, Provide, Train.

  • Plan for the job appropriately by deciding the safest way to complete it and including the cost of safety equipment in any cost estimates
  • Provide the appropriate types of ladders, scaffolds, safety gear and fall protection
  • Train workers in proper set-up and use of all tools and equipment necessary for completing the job

Unfortunately, not all construction employers or contractors take these important steps. This puts construction workers at risk for serious and fatal falls.

Causes of construction falls

When falls do occur they may be the result of a construction company not following proper safety procedures or negligence by a contractor or scaffold company. If a worker is injured as the result of a fellow employee the injured worker can file for workers’ compensation. In other instances, such as when a fall is the result of negligence by a contractor or equipment supplier, a third-party claim can be filed. Additionally, if an employer’s safety violation led to the fall a worker may also be entitled to compensation through a safety violation claim.

If you have been injured consult an attorney

On top of the physical injuries a construction worker may endure from a fall he or she may also lose their livelihood. If you have been injured an attorney can assist in getting the maximum compensation available to pay for medical bills, rehabilitation, economic loss and pain and suffering. The Law Office of Bryan R. Snyder specializes in construction accidents and takes all construction cases on contingency. You only pay us attorney fees if we secure compensation for you.