Common causes of ladder-related injuries

Some of the most common reasons why ladder accidents occur include:

• Using the wrong type of ladder
• Failing to have or use fall-protection systems while on a ladder
• Setting up the ladder at an improper angle
• Failing to train workers to use ladders safely
• Neglecting ladder inspections and maintenance
• Placing the ladder on an unstable or slippery surface
• Overloading a ladder

These conditions can increase the likelihood that someone could fall and suffer severe, potentially life-threatening injuries.

Negligence on a job site

Several state and federal regulations address the proper use of ladders on construction sites. These rules range from specifying which type of ladder parties should use to properly installing safety devices.

Unfortunately, parties do not always take these regulations seriously. In some cases, people repeatedly violate safety protocols. For instance, one contractor recently received his sixth citation for failing to protect roofers on his job sites. 

When contractors, subcontractors and others do not follow the rules for safely using ladders on construction sites, workers can fall and be seriously injured. Too often, these falls prove to be fatal.

Recognizing the risk is crucial to preventing accidents

Falls from ladders are among the most common – and devastating – types of construction accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of people die in ladder-related falls every year.

Understanding what the risks are when it comes to ladders can make it easier for contractors to prevent them and for construction workers to protect themselves.

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Structural Changes Pose Safety Risks

When a building is demolished or dismantled, the changes in the structure of the building present potential hazards, exposing previously unknown strengths or weaknesses in the construction materials. It is also not uncommon to discover lead, asbestos, or other chemicals in the structure during demolition work, and the demolition methods themselves pose safety risks.

Safety Standards for Demolition Work

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), part of the United States Department of Labor, establishes safety standards for demolition work. By adhering to these standards, the number of premature building collapses, and loss of structural support can be reduced.

Planning

Proper planning is essential for safe demotion work. This includes completing engineering surveys of the building structure, assessing health hazards, and developing a fire prevention and evacuation plan.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Providing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is critical. This may include protective gear for the face, head, eyes, hands, and feet; masks for respiratory protection; and equipment to protect hearing.

Training

All employees should be informed of the hazards posed by the demolition work and trained on proper equipment use as well as appropriate selection, use, and storage of PPE.

Employers are Responsible for Providing Safe Workplaces

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and New York State Labor Law, employers, owners, and general contractors are responsible for providing a safe work environment for workers. Employers may provide specific training for employees and are required to instruct workers on how to recognize and remove hazards at the construction demolition site.

Injuries from Demolition Accidents Can Be Serious

Demolition accidents often result in serious injury or fatality due to the use of powerful machinery and explosives. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a construction accident, speak with a personal injury attorney with demonstrated experience handling construction accident claims.

The post Hazards of Demolition Work: Tips to Stay Safe appeared first on Campbell & Associates.

Do’s

• Look for overhead power lines before handling or climbing a ladder.
• Maintain a 3-point contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) when ascending/ descending a ladder.
• Stay near the middle of the ladder and face the ladder while climbing up/down.
• Use a barricade to keep traffic away from the ladder.

Do Not’s

• Use ladders for a purpose other than that for which they were designed. For example, do not use a folded stepladder as a single ladder.
• Use a stepladder with spreaders unlocked.
• Use the top step or cap as a step.
• Place a ladder on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases.
• Move or shift a ladder with a person or equipment on the ladder.
• Use cross bracing on the rear of the stepladders for climbing.
• Paint a ladder with opaque coatings.
• Use a damaged ladder.
• Leave tools/materials/equipment on a stepladder.
• Use a stepladder horizontally like a platform.
• Use a metal stepladder near power lines or electrical equipment.

Although stepladders are commonly used, they are not always safely used. To minimize your accident risk, follow the do’s and don’ts listed above. If you still find yourself experiencing a stepladder accident in the workplace, contact our team at Campbell & Associates. We have extensive experience with both personal injury and construction accidents. Don’t fight for compensation alone; call us at 716-992-2222.

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If you have been injured in a construction accident, it’s important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you understand your rights and options. With their help, the liable party may be required to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and additional pain and suffering.

Compensation For Medical Needs Resulting From The Construction Accident

Construction workers face many dangers on the job every day. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and sometimes these accidents can result in serious injuries that require medical attention. Broken bones, head injuries, neck and back injuries, lacerations, and other common construction-related injuries often require expensive medical treatment.

Your medical expenses may be covered/recovered in a few different ways after a construction accident. First, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover at least some of your medical bills. If your injury was not caused by your employer or a co-worker, you may also be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover additional damages.

In either case, it is important to keep track of all of your medical bills and expenses so that you can document the full extent of your damages. This will give you the best chance of recovering the full amount of compensation that you are entitled to.

Lost Wages Can Be Recovered

Most workers are aware that they have the option to make a workers’ comp claim if they are injured on the job. However, many don’t realize that they may also be entitled to lost wages in addition to medical benefits.

If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, you may be wondering how much lost income you can recover. The answer depends on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries and whether you’re able to return to work. In general, workers’ compensation has the potential to cover two-thirds of your lost wages up to a maximum amount. If you’re unable to return to work at all as a result of the injury, you may be eligible for disability benefits, which can provide additional income.

In some cases, you may also be able to recover lost wages through a personal injury lawsuit. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, they should be held liable for your damages. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you evaluate your options and pursue the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to.

Other Types Of Compensation For Construction Accidents

Other types of compensation that you may be entitled to if you have been injured in a construction accident include:

• Pain and Suffering: You may be able to receive compensation for the physical pain and suffering you have endured as a result of your injuries.
• Property Damage: If your personal property was damaged in the accident, you may be entitled to reimbursement for the repairs or replacement costs.
• Punitive Damages: In some cases, punitive damages may be available if the party responsible for your accident acted with gross negligence or recklessness.

Addressing your construction injuries in consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney will help you better understand the compensation that you may be entitled to in your unique circumstance. You have the right to hire an attorney and file a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim to get the financial assistance you need to recover.

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Read more on how to make the Grieving Families Act happen here.

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https://ohsonline.com/articles/2021/09/01/top-winter-hazards.aspx

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While construction professionals may know that their employers or clients feel strongly about the Scaffold Law, they may not know what it really means or even the origins of the law that may have a major impact on their overall safety.

Workers in the construction industry in New York have protection thanks to a law enacted more than a century ago. Despite major changes in other areas of employment law in New York and constant challenges from business and building owners, the Scaffold Law continues to protect construction workers around the state by imposing liability on those that own buildings or manage construction projects.

The origins of the Scaffold Law

For more than 100 years, building owners and project managers have had to consider gravity-related liability when planning new construction projects or renovations. Labor Law 240 imposes absolute liability on property owners or the companies managing renovation projects for gravity-related injuries.

When a worker falls or suffers an injury because something falls on them, the Scaffold Law usually applies. This rule has been in place since 1885. At the time that state lawmakers created the Scaffold Law, there was neither an obligation for employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance nor strict regulations regarding workplace safety and worker training.

This law continues to help protect workers by motivating companies to put safety above potential cost-cutting measures when investing in a construction project.

What does this law mean for you today?

The Scaffold Law, despite being the source of much industry controversy, is still on the books and enforceable. A worker who suffers an injury in a gravity-related incident in New York can potentially file a workers’ compensation claim or bring a claim under the Scaffold Law for any of the losses they suffer.

Learning more about the unique workplace protection laws in New York, like the Scaffold Law, can help those coping with injuries get the support they require.

The post Where the Scaffold Law Came From and What It Means Now appeared first on Campbell & Associates.

Details of Carlos’ Law

The measure is called Carlos’ Law, named after Carlos Moncayo. He was fatally injured in a 2015 construction accident when a trench collapsed on top of him.

The morning of the accident, private investigators told the foreman and another person at the construction company that the trench was unsafe.

Despite these warnings, the men informed ignored them. Because he failed to act, the foreman was convicted on two charges: criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. 

The bill, which is awaiting the governor’s signature, is aimed at increasing penalties in these cases of criminal liability for injuries on construction sites. It raises the maximum fine from $10,000 to no less than $500,000 or no less than $300,000 for a misdemeanor. 

In Moncayo’s case, fixing the trench would have cost about $10,000. The hope is that, in the future, companies and individuals will make the $10,000 change to avoid a $500,000 fine. 

Pushes to protect construction workers

Construction is one of the most hazardous occupations. Workers regularly use powerful machines and equipment and often work in dangerous environments, like high off the ground or trenches.

While parties, including contractors, should make every effort to protect workers by enforcing safety regulations and providing proper training and materials, not all of them do. They cut corners or put profits over the safety of their employees, seriously endangering them. 

Workers already take incredible risks by working in construction. When they also face unsafe conditions, non-compliance with regulations and other serious threats, their lives can indeed be on the line. Hopefully, measures like this will continue to move forward to prioritize safety and hold parties accountable when they fail to protect workers.

The post Could Harsher Penalties for Construction Violations Be Coming to New York State appeared first on Campbell & Associates.

Pay attention

Work zones can be chaotic. They are loud and disruptive, and they often have workers and large machines moving around. With so much going on, paying attention is vital. 

Drivers must be alert and refrain from distractions like using a phone, changing the song on the radio or digging around for something in the back seat. Those who do not can increase the risk of:

• Entering a restricted area
• Swerving out of their lane
• Striking someone or something next to the road
• Rear-ending a car that has stopped in front of them

Driving is cognitively demanding already; adding in detours, construction barrels or traffic controllers means there are even more decisions and adjustments to make in the blink of an eye. Distracted drivers miss these cues and put workers and themselves in danger.

Give workers some space

Road construction workers put their lives on the line when they are working on a project. To protect themselves, they often wear bright, reflective clothing and work only within the confines of a well-marked zone.

But drivers can play a significant role in steering clear of workers. Motorists can move over a lane to put more space between themselves and workers in a work zone whenever possible. When moving over is not an option, drivers can slow down and stay within designated lanes to reduce the risk of striking a worker.

Practice patience

Road construction can be frustrating, particularly if it creates or worsens traffic congestion. While it can be easy to panic or become aggressive behind the wheel, safe drivers should take a breath and practice patience. 

This might mean looking at the route before leaving and adjusting arrival expectations based on anticipated delays or choosing an alternate route to avoid construction in the first place.

Drivers who find themselves stuck in the middle of the situation should focus on staying calm and slowing down. 

Last year, there were more than 200 accidents in work zones across the state. Remembering these rules and practicing safe driving habits can help everyone avoid the devastation of a construction zone crash.

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However, scaffolding can actually be to blame for putting people in danger when it fails or is unsafe. Thankfully, there are measures in place to prevent accidents.

Laws and regulations

In this state, the controversial New York Scaffold Laws dictate the rules for constructing scaffolding. Among the many requirements in the law are directions for:

• Installing safety rails
• How to fasten rails and other equipment to prevent swaying
• Being able to bear four times the maximum amount of weight intended to be in use
• Liability in the event of a gravity-related accident

There are also federal guidelines, including those enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Per OSHA guidelines, scaffolding must comply with various requirements for:

• Platform and walkway minimum width
• Materials used
• Use of counterweights
• Who can design the scaffolding
• Proper construction

These measures can prevent accidents by ensuring parties know how to properly design, erect, use, and dismantle scaffolding.

Fall protection systems

Fall protection systems are used widely in the construction industry. Anytime someone is working off the ground, fall protection systems can be crucial in keeping them safe. 

Some components of fall protection systems include personal fall arrest equipment, which uses anchors, harnesses and lanyards to prevent someone from falling. There are also guardrails, fall restraints and work positioning systems, all of which can protect workers from falling or getting too close to a dangerous area.

Weather warnings

Keeping an eye on the weather is crucial if you work on scaffolding. If there are weather warnings or advisories of high wind, rain, snow or lightning, it can be unsafe to be working outdoors off the ground.

Thus, contractors and construction workers must be aware of the weather and stop work if hazards arise.

Putting the pieces together

Parties can avoid devastating scaffolding accidents when they understand all the elements in place to protect workers. That said, knowing about them is only one step; ensuring they are in place is the other.

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