Florida construction accident points to larger problem

A construction accident in Jacksonville, Fla. has many wondering how closely contractors are following safety regulations – and what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is doing to enforce them.

On Aug. 21, 2006 a construction worker on the roof of a 30-story building fell 24 floors to the deck below. Although the worker was experienced working at such heights, he was not wearing any safety gear such as a harness, which would have stopped his fall and could have saved his life. The contractor who employed the temporary worker said that he was not required to wear a harness, nor was there any safety netting provided. The company believes that the man was trying to catch something and got his foot caught in a cable causing him to fall.

The construction accident brought investigators from at least two agencies – including Jacksonville homicide – to find out exactly what happened. It has also raised questions about the effectiveness of OSHA to prevent these accidents before they happen. Among other things, OSHA develops strict safety rules, provides business owners and workers with safety information and training, and in theory ensures that work sites are following the rules.

Understaffing, Lack of Inspections Leads to Construction Accidents

However, OSHA simply does not have the human resources to inspect every work site and every employer on a regular basis. In fact, there are only 12 compliance officers assigned for 37 counties in Florida – and half the time they are investigating accidents. What that creates is essentially an honor system, allowing employers to follow the rules as they see fit. And if a construction accident occurs, the resulting fines are not much of a deterrent either. For example one company in California was fined just over $5,000 by OSHA for systematically covering up at least seven injuries to workers – just the “cost of doing business” for this $1 billion contract.

After the accident, family members of the victim contacted a lawyer who was familiar with past incidents in the area. “I would hazard to guess that you could go to just about any construction project [around Jacksonville] and pick out multiple OSHA violations at any one of them," he said. "I don't think that's an exaggeration." Cutting corners on safety can save the employer both time and money, though workers across the United States are paying the price.

If you or a loved one as suffered injury in a construction accident and you feel that an unsafe workplace is to blame, contact a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury attorney to make sure your rights are represented. Many construction companies cut corners or outright ignore safety regulations for the sake of their bottom line. You deserve compensation for their negligence, intentional or otherwise, to cover your medical bills, lost work, and suffering. Click on the link below to submit your construction accident case for a free case review, or call one of our legal experts directly for more information about your claim.

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