In a study conducted over a 33-year period, researchers found fall down accidents accounted for nearly half of all construction worker deaths. The study also found that more than half of the workers killed did not have access to fall protection equipment. There is no telling how many tragedies could have been prevented had the workers been given proper equipment.
The statistics below were compiled by Safety and Health Magazine:
- 42 percent (325) of the fatalities involved falls.
- 54 percent of the workers killed had no access to a personal fall arrest system, and 23 percent had access to a PFAS but did not use it.
- Most of the workers with no access to PFAS worked for residential building contractors and contractors in the roofing, siding and sheet metal sectors.
- 107 of the 325 falls were from 30 feet or higher.
- 20 percent of the 768 deaths occurred in the victims’ first two months on the job.
To meet the needs of a growing New York City population, more and more buildings are being constructed and renovated, creating ample work for construction workers. In order to maximize profit, many property owners/contractors fail to provide workers with proper training or proper equipment.
The experienced construction accident lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers understand better than most the risks construction workers face. Many of our clients have sustained serious fall down injuries while on the job.
We recently obtained a $2 million dollar settlement for our client, who was a roofer on Staten Island. The general contractor at the job site did not provide any safety devices. Our client sustained life altering injuries when the roof he was working on collapsed, sending him 25 feet to the ground below. Our team of injury attorneys were able to prove that the owner/general contractor were 100% responsible for our client’s injuries.
If you or a loved one fell while working on a New York or New Jersey construction site contact us today.