Fatality of Construction Accidents

By: Peter Kent Posted on: 2007-12-10 Downloads: 41 ** Print Article ** ** Copy Article ** Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5  Not yet Rated

Article Summary: Construction workers who work on construction sites have the highest risk of being in a fatal accident than any other workers. In fact, one out of every five workplace deaths are construction workers. Although not all accidents are fatal, the amount of non-fatal accidents is staggeringly high, as well. Because most construction companies are small, they have no proper job safety regulations in place.

Construction workers have always been at high risk of being injured, possibly fatally. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled some statistics regarding the construction industry:

* One of every five workplace fatalities is a construction worker.

* There were 1,225 fatal occupational injuries in construction in 2001, excluding fatalities on September 11. Also in 2001, there were 481,400 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in construction. Incidence rates for nonfatal injuries and illnesses were 7.9 per 100 full-time equivalent workers in construction, and 5.7 per 100 full-time equivalent workers in all private industry in 2001.

* Because only about 10% of construction companies employ more than 20 workers, the great majority have no formal job safety regulations or programs in place.

* In 1992, the "lost-workday" rate for workers in the construction industry was 5.7 per every 100 full-time workers. This lost-workday rate was the highest of any major economic sector.

* Nationwide, about 15% of workers' compensation costs are attributable to injuries in the construction industry.

Almost every injury that construction workers suffer could makes the worker eligible for workers compensation rights. Legal actions against people with in authority positions such as general contractors, construction managers, equipment manufacturers, or subcontractors can supplement the constrained rights. These rights depend upon the application of various complex laws and the individual circumstances of the accident.

For example, in most construction projects, many different contractors are involved. If any contractor other than the direct employer has responsibility for the injuries, full damages can be recovered. Likewise, if a defective tool, machine, or other product causes injury, an injured worker can be fully compensated.

Construction workers have a right to a safe workplace according to OSHA, the Federal governing body for occupational safety and health. If a workplace hazard exists and action is not taken quickly, an employee should contact an OSHA area office or state office via a written complaint. If the OSHA or state office determines that there are reasonable grounds for believing that a violation or danger exists, the office will conduct an inspection. An OSHA compliance officer may have a workers' representative conduct the inspection with them, as it is their right. A union member, if there is one, or the employees choose the representative. At no time may the workers' representative be chosen by the employer. The inspector may conduct a comprehensive inspection of the entire workplace or a partial inspection limited to certain areas or aspects of the operation. At the end of the inspection, the OSHA inspector will meet with the employer and the employee representatives to discuss the abatement of any hazards that may have been found. These need to be corrected or serious penalties and legal liabilities may arise.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Peter Kent
Your source for everything legal on the web is located at LegalView.com. You can find LegalView at http://www.legalview.com and access a complete legal database and also make use of the free attorney referral service. Utilizing this service, users can find attorneys dealing with a variety of legal services such as a traumatic brain injury attorney or mesothelioma lawyers. Visitors can also find a construction accident lawyer at http://construction.legalview.com/.