OSHA Tells New Jersey Contractors to Focus on Fall Prevention

September 07, 2012

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported that over 10,000 construction workers suffered injuries as a result of workplace falls in 2010 alone; 250 workers died that same year after falling at a job site. More recently, a series of construction worker falls in New Jersey has prompted OSHA to look into these workplace accidents and to urge contractors to follow safety regulations.

Construction Falls in New Jersey

Four construction workers fell in workplace accidents in the spring of 2012 in New Jersey. One worker fell through a roof into a vat of acid at a site in Clifton. Another worker fell off a roof at a residential construction project in Bayonne. In a later accident, workers in Madison were installing a steel frame when one man fell. Another worker fell from an aerial lift at a job site in Secaucus.

Government officials announced they were opening investigations after the rash of accidents to ensure that contractors are practicing the required safety measures to protect workers from falls.

OSHA Fall Prevention Campaign

OSHA representatives note that these construction tragedies are reminders of how critical it is for contractors to follow proper safety measures on job sites. When construction workers are working at heights above 6 feet, they need to use protective equipment such as guardrails, safety netting, personal harnesses and lanyards. Additionally, all construction workers need on-going training in fall-prevention methods and safe work practices under OSHA regulations.

Given the serious threat that falls pose to construction workers, OSHA, in conjunction with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Center for Construction Worker Training, launched a year-long fall prevention campaign in April 2012. The program emphasizes the need for contractors to:
-Plan: Create a plan to accomplish the construction job safely.
-Provide: Make sure all of the workers have proper safety equipment to get the job done without falls.
-Train: Ensure workers understand how to use safety equipment properly and know fall-prevention workplace practices.


Fall Hazards

OSHA identifies three main types of fall hazards at construction sites:
-Unprotected openings and edges: some examples include roof edges, roof and floor openings and structural steel
-Scaffolding: when scaffolding is improperly constructed, workers risk falls
-Portable ladders: when ladders are not secure, workers can fall


Talk to a Lawyer

Falls are a hazard that construction workers face frequently -- but these workplace accidents are preventable when contractors provide safety equipment and training. Those who have been injured in construction accidents should speak with a seasoned workplace accident attorney who can help them recover proper compensation for the losses they have suffered.

Article provided by Goldstein & Goldstein
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