?Many common accidents at Houston construction worksites involve falls. This is also true across the country. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly 40% of all construction deaths in America during 2017 were from falls. There were 381 construction deaths from falls (out of 971 total reported), making this an all-to-common workplace injury. And as sad as these accidents are, many of them are completely preventable.
Houston Construction Worker Dies After Falling from Beltway 8
Last summer, a construction worker fell off of a stretch of highway running through south Harris County while working on the Highway 288 expansion project. The man was worker on the westbound feeder road under Beltway 8 South and Highway 288. He was performing decking on the steel beams and fell from the one he was working on. His co-workers did the best they could to revive him, even performing CPR. But sadly, he did not survive.
After a preliminary investigation, the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s Office declared the incident an accident. But the fact that it was an accident does not mean that nobody is to blame, and it does not excuse the man’s employer site subcontractor Choctaw Construction from possible liability. The site developer released a statement explaining the cause of the incident, assuring that their priority was the safety of workers on the site as well as the general public. But even so, it’s easy to see how improper training or safety equipment could have contributed to the worker’s tragic death.
Construction Falls are Too Common
In 2017, there were more deadly work-related accidents in Texas than any other state in the nation. Many of these fatal accidents were attributed to falls at construction sites, and at least some of them could have been prevented by proper observance of workplace safety rules.
OSHA provides construction companies and other employers with plenty of safety information. OSHA even has policies aimed at helping companies ensure that everyone can stay safe while working at heights far above the ground. Unfortunately, these protocols are not always followed.
When it comes to the fall discussed in this article, we do not have enough information to know for sure whether Choctaw Construction or other companies active on the site followed proper safety protocols. Howe’ver, it is every construction company’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their workers. If you or someone in your family has been hurt or killed in a workplace fall, be sure to collect all the information that you can at the time of the accident. If you need help, call an attorney right away.
Skilled personal injury attorneys like the lawyers at Williams Hart & Boundas are dedicated to defending your rights. If you’ve been injured at work or have lost a family member to a workplace accident, we can help you get the compensation you deserve. Taking action also helps ensure that these same tragic and preventable accidents don’t happen again. Contact Williams Hart & Boundas to discuss your options in a free consultation. We’re here to help.
