Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is a New York Plaintiff's personal injury law firm specializing in automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, police misconduct and all types of New York personal injury litigation.

Articles Tagged with construction accident

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Falls are the number one cause of fatal construction accidents. Every year in America, more than 10,000 hard hats suffer serious personal injury  and more than 200 died because they fell while working on a construction site.  In 2012 a coalition of government, labor and management representatives launched a yearly campaign to raise awareness about this issue. This year, the campaign which consists in a National Stand Down will take place from May 2nd to May 6th.  On that day, OSHA is asking employers that hire construction workers to take the time to stand down and conduct a fall prevention workshop or other activity related to fall prevention with their employees. OSHA is providing interested employers with toolboxes to help them discuss specific fall prevention subjects such as ladder safety, scaffold safety or fall protection equipment.

The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) recently released a detailed report about the Safety Stand Downs conducted in 2014 and 2015. The reports shows that the campaign reached around 2 million workers over the last two years. Stand-downs were mostly organized by commercial construction companies but also by highway, governmental and residential companies. Most common activities conducted on stand-down last year included training, equipment inspection and audit as well as toolbox talks. The year before meetings and handing out materials to employees as well as training were the most common activities.

Even though the participation was lower last year, the organizers are hopping to see greater participation this year and to reach out to more construction workers. On February 16th the CPWR will organize a webinar related to this campaign . Leaders from CPWR, NIOSH and OSHA will be discussing last year’s Stand-Down and highlighting the plans for 2016. People interested in attending this webinar can register here.

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cold weatherDuring the winter, hard hat workers are exposed to potential construction accidents related to health hazards resulting from cold stress or to safety hazards such as slippery surfaces. These accidents can often be prevented. Some products are specifically designed to prevent cold related injuries and illnesses. The Center for Construction and Research Training will present these products in a webinar that will take place
Wednesday December 9th at 2;00 pm ET.  Click here to register

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construction workerConstruction workers exposed to some types of nanomaterials may suffer lung injuries and other respiratory illnesses. For example, recent lab tests on rodents have demonstrated that unprotected respiratory exposure to  carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can cause lung problems similar to those related to exposure to asbestos. Because nanomaterials are relatively new, their risks are not well understood. Nanomaterials are present in many construction products such as coatings, lubricants, cements, adhesives, insulation and patching compounds.So far exposure to these products is not regulated and manufacturers have no obligation to indicate that their products contains nano-particules.

The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) is taking this new construction hazard very seriously and has created a database (http://www.nano.elcosh.org/) that features over 450 products that can be nano-enabled.  The CPWR also recommends that construction workers use dust collection systems and wear a respiratory mask to protect themselves from construction injuries related to nanomaterials.

For more info download the  PDF from the CPWR on nanomaterials

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released the preliminary data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) for  2014.   There where 4,659 fatal work injuries  in 2014.   This is the highest number of fatalities since 2011.

This high number of deaths on work sites is mostly explained by a revitalized economy and a decline in the unemployment rate in 2014. The rate of  workers fatalities stayed the same as the previous  year with 3.3 fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. Over the long term, the rate of worker fatalities has been slowly decreasing over the years indicating safer work conditions globally.

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40% of the fatalities were caused by a transportation accident. Among transportation related fatalities, more than half  of them where accidents on roadways. Accidents involving pedestrian workers being struck by vehicles represented the second  largest category of fatal occupational injuries caused by transportation accidents.

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Construction_AccidentAmong all industry sectors in the U.S.,  construction has the highest number of fatal injuries with  more than 800 construction workers dying every year.  A  lot of  research has been done and written on construction safety and health but the challenge is to ensure that  promising research findings become safer practices on construction sites.

Last month, the  American  Journal of Industrial Medicine devoted a special issue on Research to Practice (r2p)  at The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR)  covering the following subjects:

  •  Using social marketing to stop construction falls
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Pipe_installation_2During the summer, outdoor construction workers such as those raking asphalt or sweating pipes can suffer from personal injury such as dizziness, discomfort and the fogging of safety glass and put themselves and others at risk of accidents. In some cases heat exhaustion can even lead to death. According to OSHA statistics an average of 30 construction workers die every year from heat stroke.

Construction workers can mitigate these types of injuries by arriving at work rested, wearing light clothing, drinking water every 15 minutes, doing demanding tasks in early morning when the heat is lower and when resting in a shady area is possible. Workers should also check their colleagues for signs of illness. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, weakness, moist skin, mood changes such as irritability or confusion, upset stomach and vomiting. Heat stroke is an immediate threat to life. Rapid cooling with ice packs or cold water must begin at once. A victim may sweat a lot, but some may have hot, dry skin and no sweating. Either way, it’s an extreme emergency. Call 911 immediately.  For more info see the CPWR Hot Weather Toolbox

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fall%20prevention%20in%20residential%20construction.pngFalls from heights are the most common cause of construction workers deaths and this number is especially concerning in the residential construction sector. To address this issue, OSHA is now enforcing similar safety standards in home building and in commercial construction. Despite this effort, falls in residential construction continues to kill thousands of construction workers every year.

Recently a group of researchers from the Washington University of St Louis joined forces with the Carpenters’union and residential contractors to launch 3 initiatives targeting apprentices, foremen and contractors as part of a research study. A revised apprenticeship training taught foremen and contractors how to choose fall prevention methods adapted to each specific situation and subsequently how to communicate these methods to their workers. As part of the study, contractors can also try new fall protection equipment on their construction site.

Participants not only increased their fall prevention knowledge but also communicated better between themselves about fall risks and how to prevent them. The study also led to a higher use of fall protection devices by workers.

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Nail%20Gun%20Injury.jpgNail gun injuries send more construction workers to the hospital than any other tool-related injury. Most injuries are punctured hands or fingers but in some cases the injuries are far more serious and can even lead to death.

To prevent these type of injuries OSHA just created a new Nail Gun Safety web page and a complete guide on Nail Gun Safety that can be downloaded by construction workers directly to their mobile phones in English or in Spanish.

The new webpage offers great links to relevant content from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as access to training, regulations and additional resources.

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