The importance of following all applicable safety regulations on a construction site cannot be understated. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is tasked with enforcing these rules. But sometimes employers fail to adhere to these standards and as a result construction workers suffer serious or even fatal injuries.
One of the most common tasks that construction workers must carry out is the building of masonry walls. But if a wall is not properly constructed or if its integrity is breached in some manner, it is all too easy for it to collapse. And when this happens, every worker in its proximity is in grave danger of being seriously injured. But OSHA has regulations aimed at decreasing the chances of such an event occurring. These regulations include the following:
- A limited access zone should be created in any area in which a wall is being constructed. Only those involved in the wall’s construction should be allowed in the zone.
- The limited access zone should be created before the construction of the wall commences.
- The length of the limited access zone should be equal to the length of the wall and should extend out to a distance equal to the wall’s height plus four additional feet.
These are just three of the relevant regulations that construction companies must adhere to for building walls. Other wall-related regulations pertain to such things as the use of scaffolds as well as the use of bracing to prevent walls from collapsing while being built.
Walls are often built using very heavy materials, such as steel and bricks. When these kinds of materials begin to tumble, they can easily crush nearby workers.
If you or someone you love has been injured on the job due to a collapsed wall, you may wish to have a New York workers’ compensation attorney represent your interests. The attorney could investigate the cause of the accident to see if your employer was in violation of regulations. The attorney could also advise you on how to file for compensation so as to get the benefits you deserve.
