Despite all protocols and safety practices, construction sites remain some of the most hazardous places of work according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that construction is one of the occupations with the highest number of workplace fatalities.
Contents
NJ Construction Accident Attorney
Construction site workers often have to lift heavy objects, perform tasks on dangerously elevated heights, and operate large machinery, which makes them vulnerable to injuries. It is also quite easy for a worker to get injured at a construction site because of someone else’s negligence. You should consult an experienced New Jersey construction accident lawyer if you are injured in a construction site because someone was negligent.
The Occupational Safety And Health Act
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets safety standards and conducts inspections to ensure that employers are living up to those standards. It is the responsibility a general contractor or a supervisor to provide a safe working environment that is free from recognized hazards. Some of the rights employees have under OSHA include:
- Right to request OSHA to inspect if standards are not adhered to
- Right to get information about health and safety hazards in their workplace
- Right to privacy or for their names to not be revealed to an employer if they file a written complaint
- Right to participate in OSHA workplace inspections
- Right to refuse to perform tasks that are unsafe or pose a risk to their health
- Right to argue against the time duration OSHA allows for correcting violations of standards
Common Injuries In Construction Sites
Several things in a construction site can cause accidents that may lead to workers sustaining injuries. A worker may also get injured because of the negligence of equipment manufacturers, property owners and construction companies. Some of the ways construction workers can get injured because of negligence include:
- Falls from badly constructed platforms
- Building collapses on the workers
- Trips, slips and falls on flooring
- Falls down elevator shafts
- Use of defective cranes, forklifts, hoists and other machinery or equipment
- Exposure to dangerous chemical fumes, lead and asbestos
- Burns from chemicals and fire
- Ladder accidents
- Scaffolding failures
- Falling tools and equipments
- Electric shocks
- Nail gun accidents
- Trench accidents
- Welding accidents
These kinds of situations not only happen to construction workers but also people visiting these construction sites. Consult an experienced attorney that has the skill and expertise to carry out a thorough investigation about your accident and build a solid case seeking for maximum compensation.
Find Construction Site Injury Lawyer in NJ
An employee injured in an accident caused by a negligent party, can hold that party liable for resulting damages through a construction accident lawsuit. Compensation for medical bills, emotional anguish, permanent disability, physical pain and other expenses can be sought in such situations. Construction workers may still sue a subcontractor, employer or manufacturer of faulty equipment even if that worker is collecting worker’s compensation payments. Other people that can be held liable in a construction site include the general contractor, construction manager, architect, engineer, and owner of the work site.