The falls of gangways

Considering how devastating an injury can be for a fall catwalk, often the best course of action from the beginning is to contact an injury lawyer fall gateway to New York. Two events of the last years will serve to illustrate:

In September 2011, a worker who was installing a billboard at Dallas Cowboy Stadium fell 65 feet to his death from a catwalk. Researchers from OSHA confirmed that he was wearing a protective harness; However, it seems that either it was not anchored or failed. In a 2009 accident, a Florida man fell 30 feet from a walkway while working as an operating room technician. He died of head injuries soon after at a hospital in West Palm Beach.

Common injuries from falls of catwalks

Falls from walkways can leave victims with debilitating injuries, if they survive at all. Spinal injuries abound in this type of fall accidents. Bone fractures , crushed organs, and head / brain injuries are common as well. This is when a fall gate lawyer from New York can be very valuable.

Most injuries occur due to the fall. The footbridges can be placed a few feet in the air, such as in an auto repair shop. More often, however, they are placed high enough to make the result of any death fall almost certain. People who are injured in a fall can suffer a major injury if debris, tools or other materials fall off the walkway after their descent.

The workers are not the only group that is susceptible to the fall of the catwalk, either. The catwalks are found almost everywhere – in shopping malls, through highways, in many theaters and hotels. Just being in the proximity of a catwalk can be dangerous. If workers place a walkway above a street to streamline movement, as they build, a person who ventures too close to the area below can be affected by falling objects.

OSHA Rules in relation to gateways

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established in-place standards designed to reduce the risks of fall catwalk. They are required to be equipped with a non-slip surface to prevent slipping. This may consist of a raw material or grid. Standing boards are also required in order to prevent materials and tools from falling. Walkways must have guardrails in place that support a minimum of 200 pounds of force. They should also have a permanent exit, such as a ladder set aside. An extension ladder is not enough. In fact, it could cause a risk of falling of its own due to its instability.

Finally, it is required that the worker has to stay tied. This both minimizes the possibility of a worker falling from the band, and absorbs most of the energy from a fall if he does. The worker can slide on the side, but will not hit the ground if the rope is secured and used properly.

Since the 9 million accidents with slip and fall injuries occur in the US Every year (National Safety Council), it is important for anyone who uses a walkway to strictly comply with safety regulations. Before each shift when a walkway is to be used, it must be inspected, along with the stays, the restrictions, laces, ties and that support it. Section 240 of the state laws of New York covers liability issues in workplace falls. However, safety is really everyone’s responsibility.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York personal injury accident, experienced personal injury lawyers in Kenneth A. Wilhelm’s legal office can help you better understand your rights and legal options. Please contact us at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5486) for a free and complete consultation. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 states of the United States, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.