Virtually anyone is at risk of falling and sustaining an injury. But construction workers are some of the most at-risk groups of people when it comes to sustaining non-fatal and fatal injuries from falls.
In fact, data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shows that falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers, making up 338 out of 1,008 construction worker fatalities in 2018.
The Most Common Causes of Falls
Due to the dangerous nature of the job, construction-related falls occur in a variety of ways. However, taking the right precautions with safety gear, labeling, and communication can prevent almost every single one. Some of the most common causes of falls for construction workers include:
- Improper scaffolding construction
- Unguarded and protruding steel rebar
- Misused portable ladders
- Debris or tripping hazards
- Unmarked trenches or excavation sites
OSHA’s Fall Prevention Campaign
OSHA recognizes the dangers of falls for those in the construction industry. Since 2012, the organization has partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) in order to raise awareness for these preventable accidents.
Here are some general safety tips they provide:
- Plan ahead to get the job done safely. When working from heights, workers and employers should always plan ahead to ensure that each person knows how the job will be done, what their individual role will involve, and what safety equipment will be needed to complete each task.
- Provide the right equipment. Workers who are just a few feet in the air can sustain serious or fatal injuries if they fall. All of these workers should be provided with anti-fall equipment to reduce the risk, including the right kind of ladders, scaffolds, personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), and other safety gear.
- Train everyone to use the equipment safely. Each team member should be trained on how to use equipment safely; workers should feel comfortable asking if they don’t know how to use a piece of equipment the right way.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a construction fall, please know that Kornfeld Law is here for you. Our head attorney, Rob Kornfeld, has nearly 40 years of experience advocating on behalf of injured construction workers and those injured as the result of others’ negligent actions. Let us put our experience, skills, and knowledge to work for you.
Contact our Kirkland construction accident attorneys at (425) 657-5255 to get started with a free consultation.