Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Lack of fall protection leads to fatal workplace injuries

On Behalf of | Dec 16, 2015 | Work Injuries

Despite the strict safety regulations that are prescribed by the California Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, some company owners continue to disregard the safety of their workers. Some of the most hazardous situations for construction workers involve working at heights. Many fatal workplace injuries result from unprotected workers falling from scaffolds and roofs.

A contractor was recently cited by OSHA after a worker fell from a roof in Kyle at the construction site of an apartment complex. The 35-foott fall caused the death of the worker. During the accident investigation, it was determined that the employer failed to provide the worker with fall protection. Furthermore, OSHA found that safety training was not provided.

The violations for which the company was cited included the failure to perform site inspections and failure to enforce the use of fall protection. The employer also provided no training in the proper operation of personal protection equipment. Moreover, no procedures were in place for prompt medical care, and the employer neglected to report the fatality to the agency within the prescribed time.

As long as construction company owners violate safety regulations, families will continue to lose loved ones in accidents that result in fatal workplace injuries. Losing a loved one so unexpectedly can bring about several financial stumbling blocks at the time when a family is grieving their loss. Fortunately, the California workers’ compensation program offers death benefits to the dependents of deceased workers. The benefits typically include compensation for a funeral and burial along with lost wages to ease the burden of day-to-day living expenses.

Source: constructionequipment.com, “Worker Falls to His Death, OSHA Cites Contractor“, Dec. 9, 2015

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