Construction Accidents Due to Safety Code Violations in PA

There are many different types of construction work in Pennsylvania, including road construction and building construction. The federal government and Pennsylvania regulate construction work in Pennsylvania to protect the workers and the public. There are also construction industry standards that construction companies should meet. Our Pittsburgh construction accident lawyers hold construction companies, site owners, contractors, and other responsible parties accountable for your injuries or the death of a loved one.

What types of accidents are government regulations designed to prevent

Construction regulations are enacted to prevent or reduce the risk of many different types of accidents in many different construction industries. Common construction accidents include:

• Machinery and equipment accidents. Operating bulldozers, cranes, forklifts, jackhammers, and power tools can lead to accidents. Workers should have the proper training and personal protection equipment (PPE) to operate them. Defective machines and equipment can cause serious accidents.
• Falls from heights. Falls from roofs, scaffolding, and high floors are a constant risk for construction workers. Regulations can help ensure that workers have railings, harnesses, and other safety features to protect them.
• Electrical hazards. Construction workers often work near power lines. Electronic circuits can easily overload. Contact with exposed wires can be deadly. Routine inspections can help prevent electrocutions, electrical burns, and shock.
• Other construction dangers. These include vehicle accidents, being struck by falling debris or other objects, falls from level ground, overexertion injuries, being caught between machines or equipment, toxic exposure injuries/illnesses, and injuries from defective products.

What are the common types of construction accident injuries?

Some of the injuries that compliance with regulations can help avoid or minimize include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries and other types of head trauma
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis
• Traumatic amputation
• Thermal, electrical, and chemical burn injuries
• Fractures/broken bones
• Eye and/or hearing loss, such as when debris gets in a worker’s eyes or the loudness of a jackhammer takes a toll
• Crush injuries
• Neck, shoulder, and back pain
• Muscle and nerve damage
• Ligament, tissue, and tendon damage
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Death

Any workers and any non-employees who suffer construction site injuries should seek immediate medical care. Employees have a duty to notify their employer promptly of an accident. Pedestrians, drivers, and independent contractors should consult with our seasoned construction accident lawyers as quickly as possible so we can investigate the accident and review your medical needs.

What regulations govern construction in Pittsburgh?

The federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates construction projects that expose workers to serious hazards – “such as falling from rooftops, unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocutions, silica dust, and asbestos.” The agency “provides guidance, training, and oversight to promote safe working environments and reduce occupational risks.”

Pennsylvania has its own OSHA offices, including an office in Pittsburgh.

In Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety (BOIS) “sets and enforces safety standards” in construction and other types of work.

Some of the Pennsylvania regulations that construction companies must meet include the following:

• Safety training. Pennsylvania requires that employers provide safety training to their employees at least annually. New employees must receive safety training before they start working. If a worker’s job responsibilities change or there are new hazards, a worker should receive additional training.
• Safety regulations. Pennsylvania’s regulations for construction sites include scaffolding safety, protection from falls, personal protective equipment (PPE), electrical safety, and other construction hazard safety protocols. These standards include:
  • Regular inspections of all machinery and equipment that their employees use to ensure these items are in safe working order. Construction companies should inspect the entire construction site for any other risk hazards and take appropriate actions to eliminate those hazards.
  • Workers should have the PPE they need, including helmets, gloves, and masks.
  • Clean hygiene practices such as sanitizing work areas, access to hand sanitizers, and handwashing.
  • A clean and organized workplace.
  • Employers should monitor the health of their employees before allowing them to work.

Pennsylvania also has specific standards for workers who handle hazardous chemicals.

What types of claims do you file if my injuries are due to construction safety violations?

We file the following types of claims depending on whether you do or don’t work for the construction company – and based on who is responsible for your accident:

Workers’ compensation

Our lawyers help workers who suffer injuries in the scope of their employment obtain payment for their medical bills, temporary disability benefits, and permanent disability benefits. There is no need to prove fault in a workers’ compensation case. We also seek death benefits for family members if an employee dies due to workplace violations of federal or state law.

Personal injury

Our attorneys file personal injury claims on behalf of contractors and non-employees who suffer injuries at a construction site. We work with investigators and industry experts through the discovery process to show how a construction site owner failed to comply with federal or Pennsylvania safety rules. We demand compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost income, scarring and disfigurement, loss of bodily function, and other economic and personal damages.

The failure of a construction site to comply with federal or state regulations can show that the construction site owner was negligent.

When we file a construction site personal injury claim, we also review whether any other people or businesses may be responsible. Additional defendants may include manufacturers of defective equipment, contractors and subcontractors, maintenance and repair companies, and homeowners and businesses that request construction work.

Wrongful death

We file wrongful death claims on behalf of families when construction safety code violations take the life of your loved one.

At Carmody & Ging, Injury & Accident Lawyers, we represent employees, contractors, and other construction site workers. We also represent drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who suffer construction injuries while driving or walking near a construction site. Our lawyers have the experience and working relationships with industry professionals to hold employers and other defendants accountable when they fail to comply with federal or Pennsylvania construction regulations. Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation.