Quincy Construction Accident Lawyer

Also Serving Clients throughout Norfolk County

The construction industry is made up of various services that are engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects (such as building highways). Construction work may include anything from building a new building, to making renovations, to additions, alternations, maintenance or repairs to an existing building.

The construction industry is known for being one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. and Europe, after the fishing industry. In the United States, there were 1,225 fatal occupational injuries in the construction industry in 2001, amounting to an incidence rate of 13.3 per 100,000 employed workers. In the same year, there were 481,400 nonfatal injuries and illnesses that rated at 7.9 cases per 100 full-time workers in construction (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Leading Causes of Incidents

There are a number of inherent risks involved in working in construction; the leading hazards on a construction site are falls from heights, auto accidents, electrocution, excavation accidents, machines, and being struck by falling objects. There are also a number of health hazards due to the daily contact with chemicals as well as other exposures, some of the other hazards to be aware of include exposure to solvents, asbestos, and noise.

The greatest risk in the construction industry is falls from heights. This is such a cause for concern that the OSHA Handbook (29 CFR) has dedicated an entire section to fall protection. The handbook states that fall protection is necessary in areas and activities that involve ramps, runways, walkways, excavations, hoist areas, holes, leading edge work, overhand bricklaying, residential construction, roofing, wall openings and many others. Fall protection can be provided by using safety net systems, warning line systems, guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems and other forms of protection. It's also critical that employers train all of their employees on how to properly use these systems and to identify any potential hazards.

"The greatest risk in the construction industry is falls from heights."

Occupational Safety & Health Administration

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency that has around 2,200 inspectors that are responsible for the health and wellbeing of 130 million American workers. Under the OSH Act, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful work environment for their workers. The OSHA is responsible for enforcing their guidelines and ensuring that employers adhere to the rules set forth by the OSHA.

The OSHA reports that out of 4,206 worker fatalities in the private industry in 2010, 774 (18.4%) were in the construction sector. The leading cause of death in construction was falls, followed by electrocution, struck by an object, and lastly, caught-in or between. These "fatal four" causes of death were responsible for nearly four out of five construction worker fatalities in 2010. The OSHA says that by eliminating the "fatal four," we could save 437 workers' lives in the United States each year.

In 2010, some of the most frequently cited OSHA violations involved failures in the areas of:

1. Scaffolding
2. Fall protection
3. Respiratory protection
4. Electrical
5. Powered industrial trucks
6. Ladders
7. Electrical systems (design and general requirements)
8. Machine guarding

7 Common Injuries

A study was conducted by the Department of Labor & Industries; the study showed that 95% of claims that were paid by the Department were for 7 specific types of claims that involved injuries to employees.

Such claims were from the following types of injuries:

• Caught in/under/or between something;
• Falls from heights (roofs, ladders etc.);
• Falls at the same level (slips and falls on the same level of surface);
• Struck by or against a moving or flying object;
• Traffic Accidents;
• Musculoskeletal disorders that were work-related (knees, ankles and feet); and
• Injuries to the neck, back and arms from overexertion (repetitive motion, hand pinching, squatting etc.).

The report went on to mention in which industries each injury commonly occurred; however, the construction industry was near the top of the list for nearly all the injuries mentioned above. When an injury like this occurs, it is essential that you obtain the legal help of a Quincy injury attorney before you miss out on the opportunity to receive compensation for any time or money lost.

Recourse After a Personal Injury

There is no question that the construction industry is very dangerous, and you are probably already aware of this fact after having worked in it day in and day out. Whether you slip and fell off a roof, or if a machine malfunctioned, or if a subcontractor was careless and put you in danger, you have every right to pursue compensation for your injuries.

Construction companies are required to carry workers' compensation coverage for their employees; however, in certain situations you may be able to pursue a third party claim in addition to a workers' compensation claim. At Flanagan & Associates, our lead attorney is a former insurance adjuster who knows the ins and outs of the insurance industry. We understand the importance of you receiving maximum compensation, and getting ample time for recovery. While your employer may be pressuring you to get back to work, our mission is to see to it that you have the greatest opportunity to get the compensation you deserve, and the appropriate amount of time to recover. We serve the residents of Quincy, Weymouth and other cities throughout Massachusetts.

Call Flanagan & Associates today to get started!