Even Short Construction Falls Can Be Damaging
Falls are the number one cause of construction-related deaths. You would think that only the falls from the highest surfaces would cause serious physical injury. But, that isn’t always the case. A fall from a short distance can cause equally serious injuries with long-term effects.
A report out of London shows how such short-height accidents can damage a worker for the rest of his life, and how these falls are usually preventable.
EHS Today reports a 43-year old man from West Derby fell only two meters from a scaffold. But he wasn’t left with only bumps and bruises. He suffered a brain hemorrhage and a fractured skull. This type of brain injury can be devastating. Apparently, the man had long-term personality changes because of the injury. He also suffered a collapsed lung and broken bones.
The interesting thing about this accident, in addition to its being from a relatively short height, is that it was completely preventable. The scaffold on which he was working was made of “poor and damaged parts from different manufacturers,” the brake wasn’t engaged so it was moving around, and there were no guardrails. These safety measures are some of the most basic when working with scaffolds, and the deficiencies in this case were a clear violation of standards in any country.
The Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association Ltd. (PASMA) immediately spoke out against the accident. As reported by EHS Today:
“As the lead industry body representing the safe and competent use of mobile access towers, PASMA was shocked and disappointed to find that equipment in such shoddy condition was being used,” said PASMA’s Chairman, Roger Verallo. “This is a life-changing injury which could have been avoided with the selection of proper equipment and proper training. Users and supervisors must be trained to notice such simple problems as the lack of edge protection, as well as compliance with current health and safety regulations, and PASMA training is the best way to ensure achieving this.”
He added: “The equipment itself was not even in a safe enough state to use. It was a lazy solution for reaching the ceiling with no consideration for the worker’s safety or the suitability of the equipment being used, highlighting the dangers of a firm focused on doing the job the quick and easy way instead of to industry standards.”
Could an accident like this happen here, in New Jersey or New York? Absolutely.
About Ginarte Construction Accident Lawyers
The New York and New Jersey construction accident attorneys of the Ginarte law firm represent injured workers who are involved in all sorts of accidents. Oftentimes the accidents would have been completely preventable had the job site paid closer attention to safety protocol.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident on a construction site, we may be able to help you. Contact our attorneys to discuss your case today. We can be reached at 888-GINARTE.
