Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, they account for one-third of all construction related fatalities. Workers performing jobs 6 feet or higher on ladders, scaffolds, and roofs are at risk of falling, sustaining serious injuries or even death. Preventing these falls can mean the difference between life and death.
Employers can easily prevent these falls by developing plans to perform the job safely, providing proper fall protection equipment, and providing training to their workers on performing the job as well as using the equipment safely. The Occupational Safety and Health Association (“OSHA”) provides companies all the necessary information regarding adequate fall protection, training programs and planning requirements. It is unquestionable that OSHA was created to ensure employers place emphasis on safety over all else.
Despite the tools at their disposal, many companies circumvent the regulations in the interest of saving time and costs, but not at their own risk. Instead, employees take on the risk of death, while the companies pocket the money that should have been used to ensure the safety of those very employees. All construction workers who might be exposed to fall hazards must be trained in the recognition of fall hazards and the procedures to be followed in order to minimize those hazards. Those performing specific tasks with increased exposure must be provided with additional specific fall hazard training. Vital safety training, information and proper equipment is not only necessary in the construction industry, it is absolutely critical to ensure the safety of the lives of all workers.
Benny Agosto, Jr. is a partner at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner in Houston, Texas. For over 70 years, Abraham Watkins has successfully represented injured people and families who fall victim to catastrophes. Our attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to obtain just compensation their clients. If your life has been impacted by an employer’s negligence, please contact the office of Benny Agosto, Jr. at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, by letter at 800 Commerce Street, Houston, Texas 77002, or by phone at (713) 222-7211.