Construction Sites and Falling Objects
A 48-year-old carpenter was injured recently when a steel plate fell on his head as he worked at the World Trade Center site. The New York Daily News reported that the worker, who was wearing a hard hat, suffered a broken leg and other fractures. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was investigating how the plate fell and whether any safety violations contributed to the accident.
A New York or New Jersey construction site is rife with potentially falling objects that can cause serious injuries. The very nature of a construction site frequently means that people will be working on a raised surface while others walk around and work below them. Anything from a large piece of construction equipment to a nail can fall from above and injure a construction worker below.
Although injures caused by large falling objects are clearly potentially life-threatening, even small objects that fall from a significant height can be dangerous. A nail, for instance, can fall a few stories and blind a worker below. Concrete that spills from a torn bag can fall on a worker on a lower level and cause serious injury.
Safety Precautions on Construction Sites
OSHA regulations require that employers make construction sites as safe as possible for workers. If an employer or others in authority at a construction site fail to abide by those safety regulations, and that failure contributes to an injury, they could be held accountable both by OSHA and through a third-party lawsuit. OSHA has the authority to impose fines and stop work at a construction site for safety violations. A worker who was injured as a result of negligence on the part of someone other than his or her employer may have the option of filing a third-party lawsuit against those responsible.
If you have been injured as a result of a New York or New Jersey construction accident, you could be entitled to third-party compensation instead of or in addition to workers’ compensation. Because numerous companies often work at the same site, there is a chance that someone other than your own employer may have contributed to your injuries. Contact the New York and New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd to discuss your legal options. Call 888-446-2783 or fill out our online contact form for your free consultation.
