Falls from Heights

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It is not uncommon for construction workers to walk across a rooftop, work on scaffolding, or be perched in a dangerously high place. Construction workers must also regularly climb up ladders, climb steps, and perform other activities that create a risk of serious injury from falling.

If you have fallen from scaffolding or a ladder, beam, rooftop, or higher floor and have been hurt on the job, contact The Barrera Law Firm today and let us be your Alexandria construction accident attorneys.

Common Causes of Falls from Heights

A fall from heights in a construction setting refers to any incident where a worker or person falls from an elevated position to a lower level, such as from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, or other elevated surfaces. These types of accidents are among the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

Common causes of falls from heights in construction:

• Inadequate Fall Protection: Falls often occur when there are no guardrails around edges or openings, leaving workers unprotected. The use of faulty or improperly maintained safety harnesses and equipment also increases the risk of falling.
• Improper Use of Ladders: Using the wrong type of ladder or setting it up on uneven ground can lead to instability and falls. Overreaching while on a ladder is another common cause of accidents.
• Scaffold-Related Issues: Falls from scaffolds often result from improper assembly, leading to collapse or shifting. Missing safety features like guardrails or overloading the scaffold can also cause workers to fall.
• Roof Work Hazards: Slippery surfaces, such as wet or icy roofs, can cause workers to lose their footing. Working near unprotected roof edges or on fragile surfaces like skylights increases the risk of falling.
• Unsecured Openings: Openings in floors, such as those for stairwells, that are not properly guarded can lead to falls. Similarly, shafts and trenches that lack proper barriers pose significant fall hazards.
• Human Error: Workers may fall due to losing balance from tripping or missteps, especially if they are distracted or fatigued. Complacency in following safety procedures can also lead to accidents.

Injuries Resulting from Falls from Heights

As an employee in a dangerous line of work, it is largely the duty of your employer to preserve your well-being by ensuring that the work space is as safe as possible. When proper safety procedures are not followed, workers can be seriously injured.

Damages and Losses Associated with Serious Falls

Any one of these injuries could be enough to keep you out of work for life and stick you with hefty medical expenses for years to come. The serious injuries that can result from a hard fall can create the need for multiple surgeries, in-patient rehabilitation, long-term therapy, pain medication, and any other expenses associated with long-term care, which can be devastatingly costly in cases of serious brain damage.

The losses accompanied with serious construction site injuries are compounded by the losses associated with extended time spent away from work, especially if the injured person is never able to return to the job site. Falls from heights can result in years of unemployment, lost savings, lost inheritance for children, depleted retirement accounts, and inability to pay expenses such as auto loans, mortgages, etc. In short, the results of a fall can be devastating.

Several parties can be held liable for falls from heights in a construction setting:

• Employers: Employers are responsible for ensuring a safe work environment and providing proper training and equipment. Failure to implement safety protocols or address known hazards can make them liable.
• Contractors: General contractors or subcontractors may be liable if they fail to adhere to safety standards, provide adequate fall protection, or properly supervise the work site.
• Property Owners: Property owners or developers can be held liable if they neglect to maintain a safe construction site or fail to ensure that contractors adhere to safety regulations.
• Equipment Manufacturers: Manufacturers of ladders, scaffolds, or other fall protection equipment can be liable if the equipment is defective or fails to meet safety standards.
• Designers and Engineers: Designers and engineers may be held liable if they fail to account for safety in their plans and designs, leading to hazardous conditions that contribute to falls.
• Safety Inspectors: Safety inspectors or consultants who negligently overlook hazards or fail to enforce safety regulations can be held responsible for accidents resulting from their oversight.
• Workers: In some cases, individual workers may share liability if their negligence or failure to follow safety procedures directly leads to a fall, though this is usually considered secondary to other parties' responsibilities.

We can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and we will work tirelessly to make sure you get the compensation you need and the results you deserve.