OSHA Violations at the Construction Site
Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC Injury Attorneys Can Help
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is the federal government agency tasked with investigating and issuing citations for alleged violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Many injuries on a construction site occur due to OSHA violations.
The laws OSHA enforces apply to all worksites. OSHA’s goal with respect to construction worksites is to protect construction workers, implement and enforce safety requirements and minimize injuries on the construction site. OSHA violations can expose a construction company to significant consequences, including work stoppages, fines, increased scrutiny by OSHA officials and other costs and liability for any injuries to workers. The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC construction accident attorneys at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. have the specialized knowledge and experience to investigate accidents that occur on the construction site, analyze whether OSHA violations have occurred and litigate against the appropriate parties in the event of such a violation. If you have suffered a work injury, your employer or the site owner may be responsible for violating or ignoring OSHA standards.
When OSHA Issues a Citation
When a work accident occurs on a construction site, OSHA violations are commonly to blame. The Occupational Health and Safety Act covers a wide variety of safety requirements for workers on the construction worksite, including the use of protective equipment such as hard hats and eye protection, standards for equipment and machinery, regulations for other safety precautions such as harnesses and scaffolding and the provision of water to construction workers. If OSHA issues a citation to a construction company for a violation following an injury that has occurred at the construction site, the injured worker may have additional evidence to support a claim against the construction company or other responsible parties. OSHA violations can show that a construction worker was working in unsafe conditions when the accident or injuries occurred.
Common Types of OSHA Violations at the Construction Worksite
Most construction sites are guilty of OSHA violations in one form or another. In fact, OSHA reports that four out of every five construction sites have OSHA violations.
Numerous OSHA violations may occur at a construction site, with the most common violations involving scaffolding and other types of fall prevention equipment. According to OSHA, more than 1/3 of all construction site fatalities in 2001 involved falls, and the most common fall hazard was scaffolding. As working from heights is one of the more dangerous aspects of construction work generally, it is no surprise that OSHA strictly regulates the maintenance and use of fall prevention equipment and scaffolding.
Another common OSHA violation at a construction site involves grounding of power lines. As construction workers tend to work near or around underground or overhead electric lines, they are at a great risk for electrocution. While construction companies are supposed to ensure that all such lines are de-energized and grounded, these procedures often simply do not occur. Additionally, the improper use and maintenance of portable tools has led to electrical hazards.
The third most common OSHA violation involves excavation work. The risk of fatality for excavation work is 112% higher than for general construction work. When companies fail to properly brace or ventilate trenches, workers face hazardous working conditions that can result in serious injuries or death.
If you sustain injuries or are involved in a work accident on a construction site while working in unsafe conditions, your employer may be liable for your injuries, and for OSHA violations, as well. Contact the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC construction accident lawyers at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. for the investigation, evaluation and pursuit of your legal claim for damages against all responsible parties.