The Two Main Types of Construction Site Slip and Fall Accidents

OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is an organization responsible for enforcing health and safety regulations in workplace environments. Employers, employees, and manufacturers are all obligated to follow OSHA guidelines and support comprehensive safety at work. These regulations are set in place to maintain safe workplace environments and prevent serious injuries and fatalities. Workplace accidents can range in severity, from minor wounds to serious life-long injuries or even death. People can lose their lives, their loved ones, or their ability to work or perform naturally in everyday tasks.

As for active construction sites, one of the most common on-the-job accidents is slip and fall accidents, emphasis on the falls. There are two main types of construction site slip and fall accidents. Continue below to learn more about them, plus what you should do as an injured construction worker or laborer in Indiana.

Construction Site Accident Lawyers Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700
Construction Site Accident Lawyers Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Important Construction Site Accident Statistics

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that, every single year, 1 out of 10 construction laborers are injured on site. Furthermore, OSHA informs us that falls from great heights are one of the top causes of such accidents. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), every year there are nearly 150,000 construction site accident injuries reported. Of these injuries, fall accidents are one of the primary causes.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1,224 construction workers lost their lives in a construction accident in 2005. They suggest this makes the construction field the most dangerous industry to work in. In the United States, 15% of workers’ compensation costs are paid toward injured construction laborers who were hurt on the job.

Reasons For Construction Site Slip and Fall Accidents

Active construction sites are innately more vulnerable to the risk of slip and fall accidents due to negligent persons and companies, inclement weather conditions, dispersed construction equipment and machinery, production debris, great heights, and more. Although it goes without saying, the higher up a slip and fall incident happens, the more severe the injuries. At extreme heights, a slip and fall accident can mean instant death.

Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents on construction sites include inadequate safety training and equipment, loosened or broken handrailing, defective scaffolding, exposed electrical cords and cables, and surfaces that are uneven, wet, or slippery.

2 Primary Types of Fall Accidents on Construction Sites

Various slip and fall accidents can take place at a construction site, but the two primary types include same-level falls and falls from one level to a lower level. Same-level falls are best described as slip, trip, and fall accidents. These take place on ground level, or on a single level in which the fall does not cause the victim to drop to a lower level of the construction site. An example of the same-level fall at a construction site would be tripping over exposed electrical wiring and falling to the ground, resulting in a broken ankle and dislocated shoulder. This does not mean that a same -level fall cannot result in catastrophic injuries or death. They do, as the statistics above suggest.

Falling to a lower level typically results in more serious workplace injuries, and in some cases construction fatalities. Compared to same level falls, falling from one level to a lower level increases the chances of catastrophic injuries or deaths.

Falling in Man-Made Holes

Holes are also a common cause of accidents on construction sites. People, both workers and regular citizens, have literally fallen victim to unmarked or unguarded holes, trenches, and other deep cavities dug into the ground.

Guidance for Injured Construction Workers

If you are a construction worker, or an employee in any industry for that matter, who has been injured on the job or while performing work-related duties, it is in your best interest to consult with a licensed Indiana personal injury lawyer to learn your rights to pursuing legal action and obtaining the maximum compensation for your damages and losses.

Would you like to speak with a trusted workers’ compensation lawyer without any financial obligation? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your construction accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana with an experienced workplace injury attorney. We represent workers throughout Indiana and Indiana citizens injured anywhere, plus we can meet over the phone, via video conference (Zoom, Skype, etc.), or in person at our Indy-based office.

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Do I Notify OSHA if Injured at Work Due to a Safety Violation?

Regardless of industry, all workers are protected under Federal Law, which requires employers to provide a safe workplace environment that is free of any foreseeable health and safety hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an organization responsible for enforcing such health and safety regulations in workplace environments here in the United States. Employers, employees, and manufacturers alike are obligated to follow OSHA guidelines for the purpose of supporting safety and wellness in the workplace and prevent serious injuries and fatalities.

If injured at work, it is important to follow certain protocol to protect your rights to being compensated for your damages and loses. The question of contacting OSHA in the case that your injury or accident resulted from an OSHA violation is a common one among the workforce; and the answer depends on how you choose to navigate your workers’ compensation claim.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about reporting a workplace injury, including when it might be necessary to contact OSHA to file a complaint against your employer.

OSHA Workplace Accident Lawyer Indiana 317-881-2700
OSHA Workplace Accident Lawyer Indiana 317-881-2700

Workplace Accidents and OSHA Violations

Whether injured or not at work, you have the right to speak your mind about any concerns you have regarding the health and safety of your workplace environment. When it comes to contacting OSHA to report a violation or file a complaint, the only time that would be necessary to do this is if no one has been injured or harmed yet. In such case, you would be filing a complaint for the purpose of abating any potential health or safety implications.

The guidelines direct all employees to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within 8 hours of a workplace accident that results in a fatality. For workplace accidents that require inpatient hospitalization, a loss of an eye, or a form of amputation, employers must notify OSHA within 24 hours. You can contact OSHA to file a complaint, here.

What To Do If You Are Injured at Work

It is common for employers to display Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation posters throughout the workplace to notify employees of their OSHA obligations and workplace safety rights. These posters will have information regarding workplace safety, OSHA requirements, and instructions for notifying superiors about workplace safety concerns.

If you are injured at work in an accident, the first thing you need to do is contact your supervisor for help. If your supervisor or manager is not available, proceed with emergency medical assistance or contact 911. Once you have received proper medical treatment and have been stabilized by a medical professional, advise your employer and contact in Indianapolis IN workplace injury lawyer to learn your rights to recovering a settlement for your damages and losses.

You Have Rights as an Injured Worker

You never have to fear any sort of vocational retaliation if you decide to file a workers’ compensation claim to recover a settlement for your damages and losses resulting from a workplace accident, nor do you have to worry about being penalized by your place of employment for reporting a health or safety violation to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). An employer is not legally allowed to fire, demote, transfer, or take revenge against an employee who files a report or claim. Furthermore, all filings are confidential.

Have you been injured at work recently and now you would like to learn your rights to pursuing legal action against your place of employment or third-party? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation and discuss the best course of action for your worker’s compensation claim in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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