Work accidents can be enormously costly – not only for those injured on the job, but also for employers who do not take safety seriously. Recently in Massachusetts, a roofing company was fined $188,760 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing its workers to the risk of potentially deadly falls.
One of the most devastating types of construction site accidents is a fall. Whether workers are doing their jobs on ladders, scaffolds, or platforms; or walking along beams or laboring on a rooftop, fatal accidents involving falls can bring the work to a screeching halt. Even worse, construction-related falls can cause extremely serious injury and often death. Contractors, subcontractors and others in the industry can benefit immensely from following safety guidelines and ensuring workers are properly trained and that equipment is correctly maintained.
The contractor in question reportedly has had safety violations in the past, and also was aware of the more recent safety hazards, according to OSHA. More specifically, the company purportedly risked workers falling from over 25 feet from a poorly constructed scaffold and a non-guarded roof. An area director for OSHA noted that the company also failed to adequately train its workers – some workers were even climbing ladders which had not been set up properly, taking a huge risk in the process.
Consequently, the company faces stiff financial penalties from an agency focused on worker safety. Those who have fallen on the job may also face harsh financial consequences through no fault of their own. A fall can produce permanent disability or death, but even broken bones can lead to huge medical bills in this day and age. For a work accident victim, speaking with a Massachusetts workers’ compensation attorney can provide an avenue for pursuing a successful workers’ comp case.
Source: Occupational Health and Safety, “Massachusetts Roofing Contractor Exposes Workers to Fall Hazards: OSHA,” Jan. 27, 2016
