When New York residents go out on the job, they expect that their employers have fulfilled their duty to create a safe working environment for them. When this happens, construction workers end up getting injured on the job and some even end up losing their lives in their aim to make ends meet.
Common OSHA standards violated
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, fall protection in construction sites was the most common standard violated. The general requirements of scaffolding are also not met regularly. In the industry in general, hazard communication is lacking and fall protection training is not adequately provided. Eye and face protection requirements are also not met. As a result of an employer’s negligence, construction workers’ accidents can result.
Common injuries
One in five worker deaths in the country in 2018 was in the construction sector, which means of the almost 5,000 deaths that happened in 2018, 21.1% were in the construction industry. The four common causes of death in this sector are falling, getting struck by an object, getting electrocuted and getting in between something. If the situations that led to the fatal four were rectified, that would end up saving around 591 workers annually.
When a construction worker gets injured on the job or loses their life while performing tasks related to their job, they or their representatives might be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. This can help cover their medical expenses or wages lost. It might be helpful to consult an experienced attorney for guidance on how to exercise their rights.