Falling from heights has consistently remained one of the most common causes of fatal construction accidents. Injuries involving falls from roofs tend to occur during construction activity, roof repair and maintenance, painting and more recently, during cable T.V. and solar panel installations. These types of accidents typically happen due to dangerous conditions on the property or because of defective equipment provided to workers. Falls from roofs can also leave workers with serious, life changing injuries and disabilities.
A Serious Problem
According to a study by the Center for Construction Research and Training, falls from roofs accounted for one-third of fatal fall-related construction accidents from 1992 to 2009. The findings suggest that workers employed by smaller companies, residential construction workers, Hispanic and other immigrant workers might face disproportionately higher risks of roof fatalities.
A total of 20,498 occupational fatalities occurred in the construction industry during the study period of which one-third (6,591) were attributed to fall injuries. Of those 2,163 deaths resulted from roof falls. A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) study points out that falls account for 76 percent of fatalities in the roofing industry. In fact, workers in the roofing industry are three times more likely to experience fatal work-related injuries compared to other construction workers.
The study essentially confirmed that roofing and residential construction sectors have a much higher risk of falls from roofs. These facts make it even more important for all owners of buildings and their general contractors and roofing contractors to have a written fall protection program that specifies what type of fall protection is provided, gives adequate training information for workers and enforces their fall protection programs.
Who is Likely to Get Injured?
The study showed the following trends in connection with roof-related falls:
• Construction workers such as roofers, ironworkers, steelworkers and those employed with roofing contractors or employed at residential construction sites are at a greater risk of a work-related injury or death.
• Fatal falls from roofs in residential construction sites were disproportionately high at 34 percent.
• Smaller companies employing 10 or fewer persons had a disproportionate share of fatal falls.
• Hispanic workers accounted for only one-fourth of all construction fatalities, but accounted for 35 percent of fatal falls from roofs.
• Foreign-born workers were more likely to experience fatal falls from roofs (34 percent).
What Causes Roofing Accidents?
Here are some of the common causes of roof-related falls:
Weather: The weather can create a number of problems such as slippery, wet or icy roofs, snow accumulation and heavy winds. These conditions may increase the chance of a fall. It is important to ensure that workers’ paths are clear when they access the roof and that they have proper fall protection.
Dangerous property conditions: Sometimes, workers find themselves in dangerous situations when they don’t have proper access to the roof. Workers should not have to navigate any obstacles to reach the equipment or the structures they need to repair. A roof walkway, guardrails and handrails, nets and scaffolding, ramps and stairways may significantly enhance the safety of workers.
Dangerous roof: Sometimes, the roof itself may have an impact on worker safety. For example, a steep roof is more difficult for workers to navigate. But a completely flat roof may accumulate rain or snow increasing the risk of slips. An old and structurally weak roof that is likely to collapse may result in major injuries. In such cases, platforms with guardrails and handrails may reduce risks for workers.
Lack of training: Poorly trained workers may not know how to operate equipment or carry out their work safely. It is the responsibility of companies to properly train their workers and inform them in a language they can understand.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Workers who are injured in construction accidents may be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits, which typically cover medical and drug expenses and a portion of lost wages. Families that have lost loved ones in a construction accident may be able to seek death benefits. In addition, workers and their families may be able to file a third-party lawsuit for substantial money damages against a number of parties, and have two sources of compensation available to them.
Third-party claims are filed against parties other than the employer or co-employees and may include general contractors, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents, construction companies, etc. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
If you have suffered injuries in a construction accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job – one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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