Fall accidents are a common hazard in the workplace. Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys understand that falls can happen when simply walking, climbing a ladder or as a result of a number of workplace hazards.
The truth is we’re all at risk. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 600 workers who were killed and another 212,800 injured because of fall accidents to the same level or to a lower level in 2009.
These kinds of accidents are more likely to happen in the construction industry. This field has the highest frequency of fall-related fatalities of all industries. The retail and wholesale industries have the highest counts of nonfatal fall injuries. Other industries that are likely to experience a lot of fall accidents are material moving and transportation, maintenance and building cleaning, healthcare support and even extraction occupations.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a workplace’s risks for fall accidents. Some of these factors can include floor holes, unstable walking and working surfaces, slippery floors, unprotected edges, misused fall protection and unsafely positioned ladders.
According to federal safety standards and regulations, there are specific measures and performance-based recommendations to help to keep workers safe and out of fall accidents. Unfortunately, workplaces across the country continue to unnecessarily expose workers to hazards. This overall low safety priority, leaves injury risks and rates alarmingly high.
Fall accidents and injuries are costly, too. Some of the costs associated with these accidents include medical costs, workers’ compensation and loss of productivity. These costs are estimated to be about $70 billion each year. This isn’t only a problem in the U.S. either. The international public health community has a strong interest in developing strategies to reduce the toll of fall injuries.
As a matter of fact, the problem hasn’t gotten any better in recent years. According to Liberty Mutual, the number of these accidents has increased by more than 25 percent from 1998 to 2005. This time period was, ironically, a time when most other causes of workplace injuries experienced a substantial reduction in their rate of growth.
Tips to Prevent Fall Accidents:
-You’ve first got to understand how these accidents happen, identify your workplace’s trouble areas and work to eliminate or minimize these risks.
-Make sure that all spills are cleaned up immediately.
-Keep walkways well lit.
-Always use the proper fall protection for the job.
-Replace burnt out or flickering bulbs.
-Cover all cables and wires that cross walkways.
-Remove all obstacles from walkways and always keep floors free of clutter.
-Pay attention to what you’re doing at all times.
-Make sure the things you’re carrying do not obstruct your view.
Contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC if you have been injured at work. Call 1-800-561-7777 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your claim today.
More Blog Entries:
Risks for Work Accidents in Parkland and Elsewhere Spike and Unemployment Drops, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, May 1, 2012
West Palm Beach Work Illnesses and Injuries Often Occur in Health Care and Construction Industries, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, October 26, 2011