Safety standards are established in order to ensure that construction sites are safe and workers are not putting themselves in danger. At Golitko & Daly, we always fight for the workers in the greater Indianapolis area, especially if they were involved in construction accidents caused by negligence or violations of work site safety standards.
Below we want to consider some basic safety hazards and suggestions on how to prevent serious injuries from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Be sure to consult the OSHA website (osha.gov) for further information and to check with your employer to ensure your work site complies with their recommendations.
Basic Safety Standards for Fall Protection
According to OSHA, falls are one of the most common causes of worker fatalities in the entire construction industry. Many studies have found that having proper guard rails, harnesses, and safety nets can prevent fatalities and serious injuries form occurring.
OSHA recommends that work sites install guardrails and toeboards at ledges to help prevent potential falls, and that workers should wear harnesses/restrains to protect them from falls. Whenever possible, workers should use elevated working surfaces or elevated platforms when working high up, and safety nets should be in place within reason.
Basic Safety Standards for Head Protection
It should come as no surprise that wearing a hard hat at a construction site will spare injury and save lives. Proper and responsible head protection is key to workplace safety.
OSHA recommends that hard hats be worn in all situations at a work site in which a blow to the head may occur, such as from a falling object, a loose board, accidental contact with harmful material, and so forth.
As you may have expected, OSHA also recommends that workers wear eye protection and the proper work gloves at a construction site to protect the eyes and hands from injury.
Basic Safety Standards for Scaffolding
OSHA estimates that roughly 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities occur each year as a result of scaffold-related accidents. This means falls from scaffolding or the collapse of poorly assembled and placed scaffolding.
With these hazards in mind, safety standards for scaffolding are, first and foremost, that the scaffold is built on solid ground with proper supervision. Before using the scaffold, a competent supervisor must also inspect it for proper safety before it is used. Special diagonal bracing bars should be placed in order to prevent falls of workers in the scaffold, and the maximum weight capacity of the structure must never be exceeded.
Basic Safety Standards for Using Ladders
Falls from ladders can be very serious, especially tall ladders. Basic safety for ladders involves common sense measures.
For one, the proper ladder of the proper length should be used for each job. In addition, ladders that are damaged or structurally unsound should not be used and should be stored away and properly labeled as hazards. Workers should never exceed the recommended weight capacity of the ladder.
Our Construction Accident Attorneys Are Here for You
If you or someone you love is injured at a construction site due to violations of basic safety standards, it’s of the utmost importance that you speak with our lawyers about your legal options. We will make sure that negligent parties are held accountable.
Speak with the Lawyers of Golitko & Daly
For more information about your legal rights following a serious accident at a work site, be sure to contact our construction worker injury and industrial accident lawyers today. The team at Golitko & Daly will fight diligently for you to ensure that you receive just compensation following any serious incidents.