Understanding key factors about construction worker fall

In Florida, many people earn a living working in construction. The work is plentiful and lucrative. Still, there are inherent dangers with this type of work. Trusting co-workers, being around heavy equipment, using difficult tools and being high off the ground are just some of the challenges that must be considered when on a construction site.

Falls are the cause of a significant number of catastrophic injuries and death. A recent survey highlighted just how many problematic falls are and why construction workers think they happen. This information could be important not just for safety and avoiding accidents but when there is an accident and a worker is seeking workers’ compensation benefits.

Survey suggests why construction falls happen

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the Center for Construction Research and Training oversaw a survey to analyze falls on construction sites. According to the analysis, there are six key reasons why falls occur.

More than 27% of respondents asserted that there was a failure to do the right type of planning or the plans that were crafted were ineffective and put workers at risk of falling. This is connected to workers not having the right safety equipment to prevent falls. If employers did not adequately plan for the job, workers were 71% less likely to have fall prevention equipment.

Almost 49% of those who took part in the survey said there was no fall protection of any kind when falls happened. The employers were deemed responsible for the workplace culture dedicated to safety. If safety was a priority and fall prevention a focus, the likelihood of workers using fall safety equipment was multiplied by eight.

If workers are educated in rescues after a fall, the chance of a fatality from a fall was reduced by more than three-quarters. Subcontractors were the most egregious violators of safety practices. A subcontractor employee had almost triple the chance of a fall-related fatality than workers employed by a general contractor.

Workers’ compensation claims after a construction accident may require help

Construction workers who are on a jobsite in any capacity should be fully aware of their rights if they are injured. Workers’ compensation benefits can cover for lost wages, medical expenses, vocational rehabilitation and more. The process can be complicated and maximizing benefits might be challenging. The insurer could deny the claim or there could be other obstacles to maximizing benefits. For advice with pursuing a claim after a construction fall or any other workplace injury, having professional representation is imperative.