Learning From Past Construction Accidents
When a fatal construction accident happens, there are many people involved in the investigations. OSHA will always open an investigation into the accident. But the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will often partner with that agency to develop a report to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.
The NIOSH’s work can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official website. It’s there that you can look at reports from specific accidents and learn what safety lessons were gathered from the accident. This is part of what’s called their Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program.
For instance, one report involved a contractor who was crushed against the cab of a dump truck by the dump body at a residential construction site. The case report indicates the victim got between the cab and the body when linkage controlling the hydraulic lift of the body got stuck. He sat on the frame with his back to the cab and attempted to kick the linkage in an effort to activate the hydraulics. It was then that the dump body came down on him.
The New York State FACE investigators came up with a list of precautionary measures that could be taken to prevent similar accidents in the future:
- Ensure that an elevated dump body is securely blocked or cribbed to prevent inadvertent movement while workers perform troubleshooting work or maintenance
- Ensure that operators strictly follow manufacturers’ safe operating procedures by using proper machine controls when operating dump trucks
- Ensure that periodic inspections and preventive maintenance are carried out strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications
- Keep and maintain manufacturer’s operating and maintenance manuals for the specific model of dump trucks.
FACE reports provide a good tool for construction workers and supervisors who are interested in maintaining safety at every juncture. By learning from past accidents, we can hope to make job sites safer and avoid similar construction accidents in the future.
Ginarte Construction Accident Attorneys
The New York and New Jersey construction accident lawyers of the Ginarte Law Firm know that even the best training and precautions can’t prevent every single accident. After all, you are only one worker on the job site. One mistake from a coworker or supervisor puts everyone at risk.
When you are hurt on a construction site, you have rights. You may need someone to help you navigate the legal system when you are hurt, and that’s where we come in. You could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and much more. Contact our NY/ NJ attorneys today by calling (888) GINARTE for a free consultation.
