| Going to work can sometimes be the most | | | | workers’ safety. In other instances, |
| dangerous thing a person can do, especially when | | | | employers could be fined for not following proper |
| they have a high risk job in construction. Many of | | | | safety procedures but many times fines are later |
| us don’t have to take our lives and personal | | | | reduced or eliminated. In 2008, there was an |
| well being into account while on the job, but there | | | | incident in which a crane operator was charged |
| are numerous occupations out there that require | | | | with bribing an inspector to falsify inspection |
| a certain amount of watchfulness and attention. | | | | reports and licenses. |
| From construction site falls to gas explosions, | | | | These kinds of negligent acts increase the chance |
| thousands of construction workers suffer from | | | | of construction incidents. Many feel that OSHA |
| severe injuries and even death within any given | | | | needs to enforce a new set of safety regulations |
| year. | | | | for the construction workforce. Most states do |
| The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics | | | | not have the same safety regulations and some |
| reported that in 2007, some form of negligence | | | | are weaker than others. Additionally, a majority of |
| resulted in 1,239 construction deaths. Although | | | | workers’ compensation does not provide |
| construction workers comprise only 8 percent of | | | | support for medical bills or lost wages following an |
| the total U.S. workforce, construction deaths | | | | on-the-job injury. For example, construction sites |
| account for more than 22% of all work-related | | | | around the Forth Worth area have experienced |
| deaths. | | | | thousands of injuries within the past year alone |
| Recently, New York and Las Vegas have caught | | | | and many of the workers involved were likely not |
| the attention of the media with infamous | | | | fully compensated. In regards to the current |
| construction and crane incidents. In New York, | | | | safety regulations, it is important to know that |
| two construction cranes collapsed and killed nine | | | | there are lawyers that can help if you feel you |
| people and one bystander. The concern over | | | | are not being properly compensated. |
| quality of safety has been said to be steadily | | | | For cases in the Fort Worth area, Fort Worth |
| improving but with such an increase in deaths, | | | | construction accident lawyers have intimate |
| something needs to be done quickly. According to | | | | knowledge of state and federal regulations, and |
| the U.S. Occupation Safety and Health | | | | laws providing rights to workers and their families. |
| Administration (OSHA), certain safety standards | | | | Construction mishaps involving: structure failure, |
| have not been updated since 1971. | | | | building collapse, supervisor negligence, crane |
| However, the blame cannot always fall on any | | | | accidents, welding accidents and others can |
| single institution. Some employers consciously | | | | negatively impact your life when disaster could |
| operate unsafe workplaces. Employers can benefit | | | | have been averted. Until there are improvements |
| when they cut corners or ‘overlook’ | | | | in construction safety regulations, keep a lawyer |
| things because profit is more important than | | | | handy. |