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Officials with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) have released data showing fall hazards were responsible for the most safety violations during 2015. The announcement came at the National Safety Council Congress & Expo in Atlanta. Just in 2015, fall hazards have accounted for over 6,700 workplace safety violations across the country.
Fall injuries can ruin the lives of families and workers by causing deaths or permanent disabilities. Workers can fall from minor heights and still suffer traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, affecting their ability to return to their occupations. Employers should provide fall protection equipment to employees working six feet or above the ground. Workers also need proper training to recognize hazards and to learn how to use equipment.
Work accidents involving falls often result in fatal tragedies that could have been prevented. For example, in New York, a 30-year-old construction worker fell down an elevator shaft, killing him. The company he worked for had recently been cited for allowing workers to spot each other without harnesses.
Fall Hazards Cause Fatal Workplace Accidents in Ohio
Ohio companies have also had workers die from preventable fall injuries. Earlier this year, OSHA cited a company after two workers painting a water tower fell to their deaths. An OSHA investigation revealed the company lacked proper safety gear that could have saved the lives of the two workers. The company received $199,999 in fines for the fatal accident.
In many cases, poor training and lack of proper equipment cause fatal fall injuries. Ohio families who have lost loved ones might be able to receive workers’ compensation or other benefits.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC – Columbus Workers’ Comp Attorneys