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Falls are the cause of many construction injuries

On Behalf of | Oct 1, 2020 | Uncategorized

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, falls are a major cause of serious construction-related injuries and fatalities.

For one, falls account for over 33% of all construction fatalities in a given year, making falling one of OSHA’s Fatal Four causes of construction accidents.

Rounding out the Fatal Four are getting hit by an object, electrocution and crushing and pinning, but these three types of injuries combined account for a lower percentage of fatal construction injuries than falls.

Falling is the second most common cause of construction fatalities

In fact, falling is second only to motor vehicle accidents when it comes to causes of deadly construction accidents. In addition to fatalities, falls leave many other construction workers disabled or recovering from serious injuries each year.

Unfortunately, for whatever reason, employers are still not keeping up with the pace when it comes to preventing falls.

OSHA indicated that in fiscal year 2019, it had to issue many citations that related to safety standards designed to prevent falling.

In addition to issuing citations for failing to provide adequate protection from falls or adequate training to stop falling, OSHA also issued several citations for improper handling of ladders and scaffolding.

Workers and their families will likely need compensation after a falling injury

As these statistics show, falls from any height can cause injuries including broken bones, soft tissue injuries, spinal cord injuries and moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries.

Workers who suffer from these injuries, as well as their families, will likely need money to help pay medical bills and cover lost wages. While workers’ compensation may cover these costs, families may seek additional compensation as the circumstances require.