Construction sites can be extremely dangerous places. Both federal and state regulations are in place to protect workers and ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to ensure safety in the workplace. Despite this legal framework, accidents can and do happen.
When someone is negligent on the construction site, workers can be left struggling with grave or even life-threatening injuries. If you or a loved one are a construction worker injured on the job, read on to learn more about safety regulations and legal requirements.
Robust Safety Measures Regulate Construction Sites
Federal regulations established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outline stringent standards for construction sites. OSHA empowers inspectors to regularly check worksites to ensure these zones conform with current regulations and identify and resolve any hazards.
OSHA also outlines a variety of safety standards concerning issues that construction workers deal with on a daily basis. For example, scaffolding on construction sites must comply with very precise OSHA requirements.
Construction employers must provide workers with the proper industrial equipment and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure their safety. These companies also need to make sure that construction workers are well-trained for their specific jobs and how to use the correct equipment for the work they are doing.
OSHA even has specific mandates regarding signage that should be posted on and around construction sites, both for the safety of workers as well as passersby. Danger, caution, and safety instruction signs must be posted to alert all those in the vicinity of potential hazards. Applicable safety training for specific projects, such as public works projects, must be conducted so that workers can provide documentation showing their completion of these programs.
OSHA requires that construction employers report incidents and injuries within a certain time frame. For example, if a construction worker is injured and requires in-patient hospitalization, their employer must inform OSHA within 24 hours of that hospital admission. If a construction worker suffers fatal injuries on the job and passes away, their employer is required to report this to OSHA no later than eight hours from the time of death.
Construction Workers Face Grave Consequences from Safety Violations
Any violation of federal or state safety regulations for construction sites can put workers at risk of severe personal harm. Violations of safety requirements concerning equipment, training, signage, or scaffolding can result in a terrible accident. Commonly reported accidents on construction sites resulting from breaches in safety requirements include:
- Falls
- Fires
- Crushing accidents
- Caught in-between accidents
Burns, electrocution, and exertion injuries can also result from one or more parties in charge of a construction site failing to observe the required safety procedures. When this happens, workers may suffer serious injuries that require extensive medical care and impose a short- or long-term period of disability.
Because of workers’ compensation laws, you can’t usually sue your employer, even if you think their actions played a role in your construction site injury. However, workers’ compensation can pay for a portion of your lost wages plus medical bills related to your injury.
When construction site laws are violated, numerous parties are usually at fault, such as a general contractor or subcontractor. This means a third party could have played a part in your injury. If so, you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation above and beyond what workers’ compensation benefits would cover.
Get in Touch With a Construction Injury Attorney About Your Case
When a construction injury happens, it may be a freak accident where no one is to blame. In other cases, it may be that one or more parties violated vital safety regulations. An experienced legal professional can investigate your accident and help you seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
You could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you were injured on the job. If a third party other than your employer played a role in your injuries, they may be liable and owe you compensation for your pain and suffering, as well as economic costs like your medical bills. Contact us today to speak with a capable lawyer about your recent construction accident and learn more about the best next steps for your potential claim.
