People in Ohio who work in the construction industry or who have loved ones employed in this industry have good reason to want to track the ongoing efforts to keep workers safe. Construction job sites by nature are dangerous but that does not eliminate an employer’s responsibility to implement strong safety practices in order to prevent serious and even fatal injuries.
A recently released report by the Center for Construction Research and Training indicates that falls have historically been a leading cause of fatalities on construction sites and this trend is not changing. Perhaps a corollary to this is the fact that falls are associated with more cited violations on construction sites than any other accident factor according to the National Safety Council. One contractor specializing in roofing work in Ohio was recently fined more than $90,000 for job conditions that left workers exposed to fall risks.
A study referenced in the report also noted that between 2011 and 2015, roughly 800 people died after being struck by equipment or objects. More than half of those deaths involved items falling from above. Another 18 percent involved being hit by a vehicle. The number of people killed after being caught between or caught in areas or objects also rose during this time period.
Construction workers in Ohio and their families might find it helpful to talk with an attorney about how they may protect their rights and seek compensation after a construction site accident.
Source: Construction Dive, “Report: Caught-in, caught-between construction deaths rising,” Kim Slowey, March 20, 2018
