Construction workers need plenty of muscle and endurance for their jobs, not to mention the safety gear needed to protect them from sharp edges, heavy lifting, and falling objects. When it comes to falling objects, there is only so much one can do. It’s always best for construction companies and their employees to learn more about safety before starting a potentially dangerous project.

Falling Objects on the Construction Site

Basic safety gear can protect workers from some falling objects. A nail that gets dropped from several stories up can build quite a bit of force before it reaches the ground (or the head of whomever is standing underneath it). A hardhat, however, is enough to prevent injury. Wearing safety glass even keeps workers safe when they look up at just the wrong time.

Heavy objects, however, are another story. Individual workers can’t protect themselves from falling steel beams. Unfortunately, that kind of thing can happen on the construction site. In September, a man working for Linita Design and Manufacturing died after a three-ton steel beam feel and struck him. A co-worker who was also struck sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Then there are those in-between objects. A hammer, for instance, might have enough weight to hurt someone even if he’s wearing a hardhat.

What Does the Law Say About Falling Objects 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 worker’s compensation because a brick falls on his head may or may not have any legal recourse. It could largely depend on whether he 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, thinks can start to get ugly fast, especially when a worker finds himself facing a much more powerful and wealthy employee.