The construction industry sees more workplace accidents and fatalities than any other single industry, with more than a thousand people dying every year due to construction accidents across the United States. Tragically, many of these accidents could be prevented, but when construction contractors and site owners are neglectful, they can make the odds of these accidents happening more likely. Here are seven safety problems that can contribute to the likelihood of potentially fatal construction accidents:
- Failure to conduct inspections
- Safety regulations dictate that both the work site and any equipment used in construction should be regularly inspected. When contractors or site owners fail to perform these inspections, they increase the likelihood of construction accidents.
- Lack of appropriate signage
- Construction sites often have a number of dangers, including hazardous materials and unstable areas of the site, which are meant to be properly signposted. Without adequate signage, workers may stumble into these hazardous conditions unknowingly, increasing the risk of injury or death.
- Lack of protective gear
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as insulated gloves, hard hats, face masks, and other similar gear can be crucial for preventing accidental harm. Unfortunately, some contractors will refuse to provide this equipment, making potentially fatal construction accidents more likely.
- Failure to repair or replace equipment
- Any damaged or broken equipment should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. The alternative is workers lacking critical equipment they need, or being forced to work with defective equipment, increasing the chances of an accident.
- Lack of fall protection
- Falls are, by far, the most common source of injury for construction workers, and fall protection like safety nets or personal arrest systems can protect against dangerous falls. When contractors or site owners are negligent, they may fail to use this type of fall protection, increasing the risk of a potentially fatal accident.
- Bypassing lockout/tagout systems
- Lockout and tagout systems are used for electrical equipment to reduce the risk of accidental electrocution. However, some contractors will bypass these systems to save time or money, which increases the risk of a potentially deadly shock.
- Lack of training
- All the safety equipment in the world will not help much if workers are not trained in proper safety procedures. When contractors skip out on training their workers, they place them at greater risk of preventable harm.
The personal injury attorneys at David J. Lorber & Associates, PLLC will work with you to help you get justice for you or your loved ones who were hurt by someone else’s negligence. For comprehensive personal injury law services in New York, call David J. Lorber & Associates, PLLC at (631) 750-0900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at our Setauket office.
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