OSHA’s “Fatal Four” In Construction: Leading Causes Behind Construction Fatalities!

The Fatal Four Construction Hazards are responsible for almost half of the fatal construction accidents in California, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Construction accidents are especially common in competitive environments like Los Angeles. A few dollars could be the difference between making and losing money on a specific project. When profit margins are that narrow, worker safety comes second.

Additionally, many construction workers are LEP (limited English proficiency) individuals. These people speak a non-English language at home and their self-described English skills are less than good. Los Angelinos speak over 200 different languages. So, there’s a good chance not all construction workers understand all safety or other instructions.

A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can obtain workers’ compensation benefits for these workers. These benefits usually include lost wage replacement and medical bill payment. We mentioned corporate profit margins above. Most families live on the knife’s edge as well. A few weeks without a paycheck or a few expensive medical bills could be financially devastating. So, the benefits mentioned above are life-changing benefits.

Falls

Space is at a premium in dense urban areas like SoCal. Instead of building out, most construction companies build up. A fall from as little as four stories above ground is usually fatal.

Simple precautions, like safety harnesses, could practically eliminate construction site falls. However, safety harnesses adversely affect worker productivity, so many companies don’t provide them or don’t encourage workers to use them.

The average fall injury-related hospital stay is much longer than other average stays. No matter how much work these victims miss, workers’ compensation usually receives two-thirds of their AWW (average weekly wage) for the duration of their temporary or permanent disabilities.

The AWW includes regular and irregular cash and non-cash compensation. For example, if Raul’s fall causes him to miss performance bonus milestones, his benefits must account for that loss.

Electrocution

These construction site incidents have multiple causes and result in multiple injuries. Overhead power wires electrocute many workers. Others touch live wires on the site itself. Sometimes, the power surge triggers an involuntary muscle contraction (the no-let-go response), which causes extensive burns. Other times, the arc blast propels the victim through the air.

Similarly, a pre-existing or non-work condition often contributes to the risk of injury and/or the severity of injury. A California personal injury lawyer can still obtain maximum benefits in these cases. Corporations shouldn’t receive financial windfalls because victims are vulnerable. That’s just wrong.

Struck By

Grounded and double-insulated outlets, along with properly maintained power tools and work zones that avoid overhead wires, could prevent most electrocutions. Similarly, simple precautions, such as explaining the consequence of a dropped wrench, could prevent most struck-by injuries.

According to the myth, a penny dropped from the top of the Empire State Building kills a pedestrian on the street. That story is mostly false. But it highlights the momentum that small objects pick up and the damage they cause. 

Workers’ compensation insurance companies must pay all reasonably necessary medical bills. Furthermore, victims aren’t financially responsible for any unpaid charges. Commonly, hospitals bill victims the difference between the insurance reimbursement cost and the out-of-pocket cost. This activity is patently illegal.

Caught Between

Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries. Usually, caught between is a construction site-related motor vehicle injury.

Many large construction vehicles are difficult to operate, and many people walk back and forth at construction sites. As a result, these pedestrians are “caught between” a large vehicle and a retaining wall or other such structure.

Caught between could also involve a construction trench collapse, in which a victim is “caught between” the falling sides.

Once again, these injuries are easy to prevent. Drivers must watch where they’re going and supervisors must ensure that trenches are properly reinforced.

The nature of construction site injuries varies, but workers’ compensation procedures usually don’t vary.  Unfortunately for victims, this process is often long and frustrating.

Claims Examiners almost always initially deny claims. This denial doesn’t mean your claim is meritless or weak. Instead, an initial denial is basically a test. The insurance company wants to see if you’ll keep pressing until you get the benefits you’re entitled to, or if you’ll fold faster than Superman on laundry day.

Most claims settle immediately prior to an Administrative Law Judge appeal hearing. Sometimes, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer settles a workers’ compensation claim prior to a federal court hearing.

Reach out to our personal injury lawyers for assistance!

Injured workers need and deserve important benefits. For a free consultation with an experienced California personal injury lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.