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Construction Falls from Unprotected Sides, Wall Openings and Floor Holes
Posted on August 07, 2011 by Ronald Todd
Falls from Unprotected Sides, Wall Openings and Floor Holes
Falls from height are the most common reason of all construction fatalities. There are
approximately 400 fatal falls every year, with the trend on the upswing. One of the major causes of all falls is related to unprotected sides, wall openings and floor holes.
Almost all construction job sites have unprotected sides, wall openings and floor holes sometime during construction. If these are not properly protected, there is a great risk of falls from height and objects falling from height. These falls can result in severe injuries such as spinal cord damage, severe traumatic brain injury and even death.
How do you Avoid these Construction Hazards?
When workers are exposed to a fall that is 6 feet or more above a lower level, the general contractor must ensure workers are protected by at least one of the following:
- Guardrail Systems
- Safety Net Systems
- Personal Fall Arrest Systems
When there is a hole created in the floor, it should always be covered or guarded immediately. Any covers must be able to support twice the weight of workers, equipment and materials that may transverse over the cover.
Positive safety fall prevention systems, such as guardrails, are better to prevent a fall instead of fall protection systems, like safety nets and fall arrest devices.
Additional Information
For additional information concerning the exposures from falls, see the following OSHA regulations:
- Fall Protection Standards - 29 CFR 1926, Subpart M
- Duty to have Fall Protection - 29 CFR 1926.501
- Unprotected sides and edges - 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1)
If Injured at a Construction Site, Contact a Construction Accident Attorney at Ronald S. Todd, P.C.
If you have been impacted by a construction accident, you know all too well of the painful realities. Lost work, wages, deteriorated health are all results of dealing with the aftermath.
AT the law offices of Ronald S. Todd, P.C., we understand your financial worries. Your financial concerns should never interfere with your family's welfare. As a result, we handle all construction injury cases on a contingency basis. This means that you don't have to pay any attorney fees until you receive the compensation that you deserve.
If you or a loved one has suffered a construction site injury, contact our offices today at (317) 375-7718 or online at www.ronaldtoddlaw.com to talk to a construction injury lawyer for a free case review.
This entry was posted in Construction Accidents, Falls from Height, Construction Fatalities, Construction Injury Attorney, Construction Injury Lawyer, Construction Site Accident Lawyer, Construction Site Hazards, Ronald S. Todd, P.C.
