What are the Causes of People Falling on Construction Sites?

In 2020, falls, slips, and trips were listed among the 3 major categories accounting for 73 percent of all fatal workplace injuries in New York City. With such deadly outcomes, many construction companies investigate the causes of falls with the aim of avoiding them.

When preventable workplace accidents occur, New Yorkers can turn to the personal injury lawyers of Hill & Moin LLP for legal advice. Undocumented workers can also feel free to seek legal services without fear of deportation.

How Broken OSHA Regulations Lead to Disaster?

OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This organization aims to ensure healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing safety standards, training employers and employees, and providing compliance assistance.

One disturbing fact stood out in a 2020 analysis of fatal construction accidents in New York State: OSHA violations coincide with construction worker fatalities in 97 percent of all cases.

Spills

Spills are a slipping hazard. Therefore, anyone encountering a spill on a construction site should take steps to minimize the potential of an accident:

Determine whether the spilled substance is dangerous. If so, follow the hazardous materials spill response.
If not, notify supervisors and cleaning staff. If others might pass through the area, use a “Caution Wet Floor” sign to warn others. Workers might also cover spills or close off the site.
Contain the spill if possible. For instance, employees might need to close a water valve or set upright tipped containers to prevent the problem from worsening.
Use an appropriate cleaning product, as some chemical interactions create harmful fumes. Ensure the cleaned area is dry and free of cleaning equipment, such as mops or rags. If the spill was hazardous, dispose of the material according to local laws.
Keep work and storage areas tidy and free from clutter
Designate waste areas, provide garbage bins where needed, and promptly remove waste after a project
Schedule deliveries to minimize the number of on-site materials
Use cordless tools when possible.
Mount necessary cables high, especially in corridors and high-traffic areas
Tape down cords that cannot be mounted high
Correct changes in the level of flooring or warn workers with signage, dispose of the material according to local laws

Even a small amount of water, grease, or other fluids can make walking surfaces slippery. Remember that dry items (e.g. sawdust, dirt, food) could pose a similar risk.

Obstructions

Suppose a construction worker is transporting materials from one area to another. An unseen obstacle could cause that person to trip and fall, even potentially injuring others in the process, perhaps dropping materials.

Common obstacles that cause falls are:

Building materials
Waste
Uneven flooring
Trailing cables or wires

To reduce the risk, proactive construction site managers:

Keep work and storage areas tidy and free from clutter
Designate waste areas, provide garbage bins where needed, and promptly remove waste after a project
Schedule deliveries to minimize the number of on-site materials
Use cordless tools when possible.
Mount necessary cables high, especially in corridors and high-traffic areas
Tape down cords that cannot be mounted high
Correct changes in the level of flooring or warn workers with signage

Trained workers contribute to a safe environment by reporting potential obstacles to management.

Poorly designed stairs and broken handrails

Stairs are a well-established method of passing from one level to a lower or higher one. Yet, “people have been falling on them, getting hurt, or even killed” since ancient times.

One reason is poor design. OSHA recommends the following dimensions ranges for safe stairs:

Optimal range: 30º-35º
Handrail height: between 86.5 and 107 cm
Riser height: between 12.5 and 18 cm
Step width: 90 cm minimum
Tread run: between 25.5 and 35.5 cm

The tread should be uniform with minimal depth variation. As requirements vary by location, builders should always consult local building codes. Non-slip materials on the surface of the stairs, particularly on the leading edges, can prevent accidents.

Regular maintenance of stairs and handrails is essential. Workers should also have good visibility on stairs. Thus, OSHA suggests that site managers give attention to:

Adequate illumination (at least 50 lux)
Contrasting colors to improve depth perception
Matte finish to reduce glare
Solid-colored carpeting as patterns might hide depth differences

On the other hand, perfectly designed stairs and railings serve no purpose unless workers use them. Good supervisors train workers on stairway safety practices.

For example, supervisors might require employees to take extra caution while wearing bifocal glasses. Workers should also avoid carrying bulky objects that require two hands or block their vision on the stairs.

Inadequate lighting

Proper lighting ensures good visibility for workers. The most common unit of measurement used by OSHA is called a “foot-candle.” A foot-candle is the illumination of a 1-square-foot surface by a single, uniform light source.

Different construction areas require different foot-candles, namely:

General sites, concrete placement, excavation and waste areas, access ways, active storage, loading platforms, refueling, and field maintenance: 3
General lighting, indoor warehouses, corridors, hallways, and exit ways, tunnels, shafts, and underground work areas: 5
Tunnel and shaft headings during drilling, mucking, and scaling, plant shops (e. g. batch plants, mechanical and electrical equipment rooms, carpenter shops, rigging lofts, barracks or living quarters, locker rooms, mess halls, and indoor toilets and workrooms: 10
First aid stations, infirmaries, and offices: 30

However, the quality of lighting involves many variables. A site manager would need to weigh factors, such as those listed below, to determine whether the lighting is suitable for an indoor or outdoor worksite:

Light source
Air purity
Floor, wall, and ceiling color,
Surface sheen
Time of sunrise or sunset

If a worker falls and sustains injury due to inadequate illumination, he or she could qualify for workers’ or personal injury compensation.

Faulty ladders

Step ladders should have a locking device to keep the front and back open. A ladder must rest on a solid surface.

Other good rules of thumb are:

Check ladders before each use, repairing or discarding damaged equipment
Wear shoes with slip-resistant soles
Stand no higher than the third rung from the top

Workers should keep two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the ladder at all times. They should never lean or reach for something while on the ladder. If possible, a coworker can support the ladder from the bottom.

Management Issues Implicated in Fall Incidents

Construction workers are 7 times more likely than other industry employees to fall from a height at the workplace. The National Safety Council (NSC) urges construction management to prioritize fall safety since “falls are 100% preventable.”

Yet, some managers fail to take proactive steps such as those discussed below to eliminate risk:

Determining whether working from a height is strictly necessary; managers should opt for the safer option if there is a better way to complete the task
Providing safety equipment and training workers to use it properly
Ensuring that workers use the correct tool for each job
Looking for potential hazards before beginning a project
Consulting weather forecasts regularly for outside jobs

Why would anyone not take these simple steps? The lame excuses below could be considered negligence under New York personal injury law.

Rushing to meet deadlines

Contracts govern how long construction businesses have to complete their work. Unexpected delays can make tight schedules even harder to fulfill, so some workers or employers might be tempted to cut corners.

The New York Department of Labor sets these guidelines:

Fatigue is a common denominator in many construction site accidents. New York State employers are required to provide most employees with at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in a calendar week. Employers must agree to specific conditions and make a formal application for exceptions.
In general, employers in New York must provide at least 30 minutes of time off for meals if workers are on the clock for more than 6 hours. Dehydration and hunger can lead to health complications, making workers more likely to trip and fall.

When managers take measures to save time, they must resist the temptation to do so at the cost of worker safety.

Cutting corners to save money

Construction companies estimate how much money they need to complete a job before they begin. Investors often take an interest in the projected costs of:

Materials
Permits
Inspections
Equipment rentals
Demolition
Worker salaries
Transportation

Project managers might cut costs by eliminating personal protective equipment (PPE) or other necessary safety features if a project threatens to go over budget. Contractors who violate OSHA standards can be fined for failing to provide, train, and implement fall protection systems like harnesses and guardrails.

Being distracted by other matters

Most construction companies would probably claim that they care about worker safety. Yet, workplace safety sometimes falls to the wayside. An effective way to demonstrate concern is to make employee safety a top priority.

Charlene Obernauer, NYCOSH Executive Director, puts it this way: “New York should be a national leader in worker safety, but the data reveal that we continue to lead the nation in construction worker fatalities, despite COVID-19 shutdowns. Lawmakers must protect and expand safety regulations to hold negligent contractors and companies accountable when they endanger workers. While we are fortunate to have many strong protections on the books – such as the scaffold safety law – we still need stiffer consequences.”

What to Do If You Fall at a Construction Site?

Peter Coo, a New York Council Member, states: “One construction-related fatality or injury is too many. As our city continues to recover and construction begins to ramp up, we need to make sure we are deconstructing past accidents and doubling down on safety precautions.”

Everyone on a construction site should do their part to prevent fall injuries. New York construction employers are a valuable part of the community. Workers and their families deserve healthy routines and work environments free of fall hazards.

If you fall, premises liability lawsuits could protect your future. You could qualify for significant compensation. Find out your Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ by scheduling a free appointment with Hill & Moin’s personal injury team at (212) 668-6000.

Don’t wonder about your rights!