Louisiana Construction Accident Attorneys

Fighting for Injured Workers in Baton Rouge & Nationwide. Call Today!

Construction is well known as a particularly dangerous industry in which to work. Because workers are dealing with heavy objects, working at great heights, and likely to be exposed to toxic chemicals, serious accidents can (and do) occur. However, that does not mean that workers are choosing to work at their own risk. It is still the responsibility of employers to abide by federal regulations and make construction sites as safe as possible. When they fail to take these necessary measures, they may be liable for your or your loved one’s serious injuries.

Construction employers are obligated by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to take reasonable steps toward providing safe working conditions. As a federal authority, OSHA enforces their regulations by inspecting work sites; if breaches are found, they penalize those responsible. However, while OSHA benefits workers, they do not represent them. Their only responsibility is to punish wrongdoing.

If you were injured on the job, talk to the Louisiana construction accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin. We have the resources and skill to help. Call (888) 493-1629 for your free consultation!

OSHA’s “Fatal Four” Accidents in Construction

Part of OSHA’s duties include compiling research every year to determine from statistics what measures can be added to their codes to make workplaces across the country safer. Each year, OSHA finds that four types of accidents in construction are leading causes of fatalities in the industry. Although these make up the majority of tragic deaths, they can all be avoided by taking proper safety steps.

The “Fatal Four” is comprised of:

• Falls: 39.9% of total construction fatalities
• Electrocutions: 8.2% of total construction fatalities
• Struck by Object: 8.1% of total construction fatalities
• Caught-in/Caught-between: 4.3% of total construction fatalities

These four accident types makeup over 60% of all construction deaths and falls alone making up nearly 40% of them. Deaths from great falls usually occur as a result of faulty, ill-installed equipment, or improper supervision. When working at great heights, construction employers have to take into consideration the chance that workers’ scaffolding may fail, and need to provide harnessing and other fall preventing measures.

Construction Site Responsibilities

Tragedies occur every day, and sometimes, no single party can be to blame. However, that is not often the case. Most of these tragedies can be avoided with the required amount of caution. Supervisors may at times look the other way from a structure that does not meet OSHA standards, or even a coworker may force someone to take an unnecessary risk that leads to disaster.

Other acts of negligence may include:

• Poor site design or insufficient inspection
• Improperly secured equipment
• Failure to mark hazards, such as holes or trenches
• The use of malfunctioning equipment
• Violating safety codes

One of the more immediate responsibilities in the above list is improperly marked hazards. If a hole or trench is not identified, causing a worker to fall through, deaths or injuries that occur as a result of the fall are the fault of site managers and supervisors.

Other dangerous worksite incidents include:

• Explosions
• Electric shocks
• Crane accidents
• Roofing collapses
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Falling objects
• Scaffolding accidents
• Malfunctioning equipment

The New Orleans Construction Collapse at the Hard Rock Hotel

On October 12, 2019, a collapse occurred at the construction site of the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans. The hotel was set to open the following year after years of zoning controversy surrounding its construction. At the time of the accident, officials confirmed that 1 person was killed, 3 were missing, and an additional 18 people were transported to local hospitals to receive treatment for injuries. By the end of the weekend, authorities recovered an additional body and were still in search of the last missing individual.

Immediately following the collapse, officials evacuated all nearby buildings and told residents to stay away from the area. They were concerned that two cranes, which were still standing, had the potential to collapse. Additionally, responders were worried that the buckling building, which had its sixth to eight floors crushed, would suffer another catastrophic failure. Video captured from the street showed sheets of concrete and columns of steel falling as those beneath ran for their lives. One construction worker, who was in the structure at the time of the accident, told news outlets that he estimated about 45 workers were present at the time of the collapse.

Hiring the Right Louisiana Construction Accident Firm

Workers often feel that accidents are their fault. Yet, companies often fail to provide the proper training, maintenance, and safety standards at their job sites. Our experienced legal team will conduct a thorough investigation into learning precisely what happened the day of the injury, and determining who may truly be held accountable. Arnold & Itkin has won billions in compensation for our clients—let us help build your case.

Call Arnold & Itkin at (888) 493-1629 today!