Even if an employer and construction business takes every essential and feasible safety step, construction workers still face considerable dangers on every project. Even when safety precautions are carefully enforced, construction work remains a risky profession in New York State. Falling from heights is the most dangerous position for construction workers. New York State has led the way in enacting a “no-excuse” rule that holds those in charge of the site accountable (liable) for any injuries received due to a violation of the law.
Over the last 135 years, this rule, initially known as the scaffolding law, has been considerably enlarged such that it extends to any worker who falls from a scaffold, ladders, roof, or other high working surface and receives an injury and injured need to claim with the help of construction accident attorneys in Rochester.
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Accidental Deaths On The Job
When it comes to construction-related injuries and fatalities, falls are the most common culprit. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, falls are one of the “fatal four,” or the four most prevalent causes of fatal accidents on construction sites. Accidents involving both tripping and falls or falls from heights account for roughly a third of all construction-related fatalities each year.
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Heavy equipment-related Injuries
Heavy construction equipment, such as excavators, cranes, dozers, backhoes, dump trucks, and man lifts, is a significant cause of construction site injuries. There are many restrictions that must be adhered to in New York, such as needing skilled employees to operate such equipment, requiring spotters to be utilized when the operator’s view is impeded, and so forth.
Injuries to construction workers may be life-threatening if large items fall from the sky and strike them on the ground. Proper safety obstacles and suitable safety equipment are only two options for preventing these mishaps. According to OSHA, this sort of hazard accounts for more than 11 percent of construction deaths.
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Electrocution On The Jobsite
The third most significant cause of mortality in workplace accidents is electrocution, which is virtually avoidable. According to OSHA, electricity kills more than 8% of all construction workers. Between 2011 and 2015, the CDC reported that 105 building electrocution fatalities occurred. Construction workers who are power-line installers have the most significant risk of existence or fatal injuries. Indeed, power-line installers had roughly 30 deaths per 100,000 employees “or approximately 40 above that of all construction jobs on average.”
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Injuries From Crush
Heavy machinery, such as a backhoe bucket or a dump truck backing up without a spotter, may injure workers on construction sites. Also, fallen materials can cause injuries. Every year, 5.5% of all construction-related fatalities result from crushing injuries. Section 241 of the New York Labor Law provides extra safeguards for construction employees in Albany, Syracuse, and Rochester.
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Accidents Involving Motor Vehicles In Construction Zones
Construction site accidents are also often caused by car crashes. According to New York Rules, workers who are exposed to interstate traffic, including such road crews, must be protected against being struck by moving automobiles. To do this, there must be good signs and flags and barriers. Every regulation and legislation that pertains to construction accidents is well-known to an experienced construction project accident lawyer, who may put this knowledge to good use.
SPEAK TO AN ACCIDENT ATTORNEY AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE
Legal recourse under the state’s Safe Place at Work Laws may be available if you’ve been hurt on a construction site or if a loved one has been killed there. We have a team of experienced construction accident lawyers at our office that can help you understand your options. After a catastrophic construction accident, the legal office is dedicated to defending the interests of wounded construction employees and their families. To learn more about services provided to families and people in upstate New York, get in touch with them.