Given that construction accident cases are one of our major practice areas at Buttafuoco & Associates, we know what a dangerous job construction can be.
In fact, the construction industry is arguably the most dangerous in the country: accounting for the most fatalities of any industry in our home state of New Jersey.
According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly one in three of these fatalities were a result of falls to a lower level.
In this article I’ll discuss the most common reasons our Northern New Jersey attorneys see for construction accidents, as well as what your employer should be doing to prevent them.
Five Common Causes of Construction Site Injuries
Falls to a lower level in construction can occur due to various factors and hazardous conditions at construction sites.
As construction accident lawyers serving Northern New Jersey, five of the most common causes of falls to a lower level include:
- Unprotected Edges: Construction workers may fall from elevated surfaces, such as scaffolds, rooftops, or open edges of floors. These areas need to be protected with guardrails, toe-boards, or safety nets.
- Slippery Surfaces: Wet or slippery surfaces due to rain, spills, or other hazards can cause workers to lose their footing and fall.
- Unstable or Inadequate Scaffolding: Falls can occur if scaffolding is poorly constructed, lacks proper bracing, or is not securely fastened to the structure.
- Open Holes and Floor Openings: Workers may accidentally step into uncovered holes or floor openings, resulting in falls to lower levels.
- Obstructed Walkways: Cluttered or poorly maintained walkways can cause workers to trip and fall from elevated surfaces.
Be on the lookout for hazards such as these on your job site, and if you notice them, speak up.
If you have been harmed due to one of these issues and believe your injuries can be traced to your employer’s negligence, a construction accident lawyer serving Northern New Jersey can help you determine whether you have a case.
Five Steps to Prevent Construction Site Falls
As an employee, you can’t take it upon yourself to control everything on your job site that could potentially harm you. But there are several steps a job site manager can take to prevent a construction site accident including slips, trips, or falls.
In fact, it’s the employer’s duty to make sure that the job site is a safe working environment, free from hazards.
Five of the most effective steps employers can take to prevent construction slip and falls are:
- Use Fall Protection Systems: Use a proper fall protection system, such as guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), whenever workers are exposed to potential fall hazards. Employers should ensure that these systems meet industry safety standards and are regularly inspected for effectiveness.
- Regular Site Inspections and Hazard Assessments: Conduct frequent inspections of the construction site to identify potential fall hazards and ensure that safety protocols are being followed. Address any hazards promptly.
- Maintain Adequate Signage for Hazards: It’s an employer’s duty to provide clear warnings for any hazardous conditions on a job site, such as slippery surfaces. Not doing so can be considered a “failure to warn,” and may leave an employer liable in the event of an accident.
- Conduct Safety Training: Clear and up-to-date safety training on personal safety equipment, safety procedures, and any job-site equipment can prevent many falling-related accidents. While this may be surprising, a failure to properly train employees on equipment and procedures in a language they understand is also considered a failure to warn.
- Communication and Reporting: In a work site with a proactive safety culture, workers feel comfortable reporting potential hazards or safety concerns. If workers report and address potential hazards, such as slippery surfaces or unstable scaffolding, these issues can be addressed to prevent future accidents.
As I mentioned above, your employer has a duty to maintain a safe environment for all employees on a construction site, and prioritizing worker safety is essential.
If you or a loved one has experienced a construction site trip, slip, or fall, it may be in your best interest to work with a Northern New Jersey construction accident lawyer to see if you have a personal injury lawsuit.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT to get in touch with an expert in personal injury law at Buttafuoco & Associates for a free consultation and to learn more about filing a workers compensation claim to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.
