Construction workers face hazards while performing their work, including potential slip and fall accidents caused by uneven surfaces, broken ladders or slippery floors.
Trips and falls happen on construction sites all the time. According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), these types of accidents account for more than one million emergency room visits each year.
Slip and fall accidents are very common in the construction industry.
New York law requires that all floors, walkways, scaffolds, platforms and other elevated work surfaces be free of slippery conditions such as ice, snow, water, grease and other substances that can cause workers to slip and lose their balance.
It is also a requirement that walkways and work areas remain free of tripping hazards to ensure that work can be carried out safely throughout the workplace.
If tripping hazards are not eliminated from walkways and work areas, workers can fall and cause serious injury.
How can such accidents be avoided?
Most slip and fall accidents are attributed to negligence or lack of safety in the workplace. Statistics show that a large proportion of accidents are caused by unsafe conditions that should have been prevented.
Factors that increase slip and fall hazards and cause accidents include lack of warning of slippery floors, lack of barriers in unsafe spaces, broken ladders, debris on surfaces, among others.
Therefore, to help prevent these accidents, employers must take action to prevent them.
The International Labour Organisation recommends:
- Prevent floors from remaining wet, obstructed by objects or contaminated.
- Clean surfaces to avoid excessive accumulation of snow or ice during the winter.
- Repairing pipes and cleaning dripping wet surfaces.
- Prevent workers from entering spaces where the floor is wet due to repairs or after scrubbing until they are completely dry.
- Identify potential trip or slip hazards, such as uneven or uneven floors and loose cables.
- Ensure that all workers wear footwear suitable for the environment in which they will be operating.
- Constantly monitor spaces, especially those most prone to slip and fall accidents.
What to do if you have a slip/fall accident?
When a worker falls due to failure to properly maintain safe conditions and aisles free of trip and slip hazards, the injured worker can establish a claim for fair compensation for his or her injuries.
It is important to contact an experienced slip and fall accident attorney. They will obtain evidence to determine the cause of the accident and contact witnesses to obtain the information necessary to win your case.
The limitations period for filing a slip and fall accident claim can range from 60 days to three years from the date of the accident. It is recommended to start the legal process as soon as possible.
Why contact Gorayeb The People’s Lawyers?
At Gorayeb, The People’s Attorneys, we have a team of New York slip and fall accident specialists who can help you file a lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve and need. Our lawyers will investigate everything related to your accident to identify the causes and determine who is responsible.
This will bring you closer to receiving the benefits you are entitled to as a victim of labour negligence.
If you or someone you know has been injured on a construction site call Gorayeb & Associates at 212-267-9222 for a free consultation.
