Construction workers need plenty of muscle and endurance for their jobs, not to mention the proper safety gear to protect them from sharp edges, heavy lifting, and falling objects. In fact, injuries and deaths that result from falling objects are very common. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that roughly 50,000 workers are injured by falling objects on the job each year, and 250 workers die from these accidents. While it’s impossible to eliminate all injury risks, there are measures that employers and employees can take to reduce the risk of falling objects.

Consider the Causes

Most dropped objects are the result of human error, but faulty equipment, poor maintenance, and inadequate safety measures are major factors. For instance, if materials are not secured properly they can easily fall off a truck and injure someone. If a tool is not properly stored, it can fall from a height and injure a worker below.  Even debris, when dropped from a great height, can cause serious injury. (Unlike the cartoons, dropping an anvil will cause more than seeing stars!)

How to Prevent Injuries

A nail that falls from a short distance may only cause a minor scratch, but if it gets dropped from several stories up, it can build enough force to seriously injure the head of whomever is standing in its way! Wearing a hardhat can prevent this type of injury. Safety glasses can also keep workers safe from falling debris.

Heavy objects, however, are another story. No amount of safety equipment can protect a worker from a falling steel beam, which is not unheard of on a construction site. For instance, a man working for Linita Design and Manufacturing of Lackawanna, NY, died after a three-ton steel beam fell and struck him. A co-worker who was also struck sustained non-life threatening injuries. Cases like these illustrate the importance of safety measures, and training employees on how to use equipment and being aware of their surroundings at all times. Some recommended safety measures include:

  • Nets that hang below the work area
  • Dropping arrestors (devices that stop an object from hitting the ground)
  • Safety harnesses to keep workers secured to the structure

What Does the Law Say About Falling Objects on Construction Sites?

New York has some special protections for workers on construction sites. Falling objects on construction sites are covered by Labor Law 240. That probably doesn’t mean much, though, unless you have an attorney who’s familiar with the various ways this law has been interpreted.

The legal system definitely makes a distinction between different types of falling objects. A person seeking workers’ compensation because a brick falls on their head may or may not have any legal recourse. It could largely depend on whether he or she sustains injuries.

A worker struck by a steel beam, however, definitely deserves compensation that makes up for lost wages, treatments, and pain. When it comes to legal involvement, though, things can start to get ugly fast, especially when a worker finds himself facing a much more powerful and wealthy employee. That’s when you need the advice of a trusted and experienced attorney.

If you have suffered an injury or a loved one has died due to a falling object on the job, contact our law firm to protect your rights to workers’ compensation benefits. We can provide the guidance you need to file your claim for benefits. Contact us toll free at 888-799-3918 or through our online contact form.