Construction work is some of the most lucrative in the United States when the economy is in good shape. However, falls are a leading cause of death in Texas construction accidents. These past few years have been a struggle for anyone in the industry.
The unfortunate side effect of this problem is that people lucky enough to land a construction job are likely to overlook safety infractions as a trade-off for keeping the job. This has the potential to end badly for someone.
For decades, the personal injury lawyers at Baumgartner Law Firm in Houston have been winning huge settlements for severe injuries and wrongful death in construction fall cases. Let us help you!
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) states that ‘falls’ account for a third (one of every three construction-related deaths) of the fatalities in construction and are the leading cause of death overall. (Frankly, falls are a deadly problem in all industries (roofing, electrical work, etc.) – nearly half of all fatal falls happen when individuals topple from roofs, ladders, and scaffolding.)
Once a worker is above the first floor, he or she may fall because of multiple factors that put them in danger, including unprotected sides, openings in the walls and floor, improper scaffold construction, and even misuse of portable ladders. Several suggestions, including guardrails, restraints, and more, can be employed by construction sites to prevent deadly falls.
Construction employees are advised to ask their employers for the fall prevention plan (or a person who works ‘off the ground’) and then use it.
There are many kinds of fall protection, some more effective than others. Even with fall protection equipment, a construction worker is not guaranteed not to get injured or killed in a fall. Fall equipment can fail, and employers can fail to implement proper fall protection procedures as OSHA requires.
Just having fall protection is not enough; the safety equipment itself must be effective in saving lives.
Construction accident lawyers in Houston at Baumgartner Law Firm have won record settlements for wrongful death cases, and have been responsible for product manufacturers making safety changes to their fall protection products. We are proud that our advocacy will save lives!
Employers have certain obligations related to fall protection for the safety of their employees. Under OSHA fall protection guidelines, employers must:
Additionally, OSHA requires employers to:
Usually, after a fatal accident, OSHA investigates the incident and prepares an initial report based on its findings. Most of the time, the company seeks to negotiate a settlement after an OSHA violation to prevent the OSHA citation from being admissible in the ensuing wrongful death lawsuit or personal injury case.
If you have lost a loved one, call a Houston construction accident lawyer at Baumgartner Law Firm ASAP to prevent the destruction of vital evidence.
The more severe the accident, the sooner you should get and preserve important evidence.
To speak with a leading construction accident attorney, call the Baumgartner Law Firm at (281) 587-1111 to discuss your rights and options, or fill out an online case consultation request!
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