A 15-year-old boy was injured while helping his uncle on a residential construction project in Northborough, Massachusetts earlier this month. The uncle was identified as Stephen MacDonald of Natick and the company in question is Stephen MacDonald Construction, Inc. The names of the teen and his 16-year-old brother, who was also helping, have not been released to the press.
The two teens were moving lumber when the younger brother fell through a hole in the first floor, landing face-first in the basement. The injured teen flew by emergency helicopter to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Despite his injuries from the construction accident, emergency personnel say the boy was alert and conscious when they arrived.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) spokesperson Ted Fitzgerald, both OSHA and the Wage and Hourly Division of the U.S. Department of Labor are investigating the incident. The Wage and Hourly Division is determining whether child labor laws were violated. Several job are classified as too dangerous for young teens and the Department’s website lists “construction or repair jobs” as a potentially hazardous job.
If you or a family member sustained injuries on a construction site or other job-related environment, then you need a lawyer who understands workers’ compensation cases. Our team of Boston construction accident attorneys can explain your options and ensure that you receive proper medical treatment, as well as compensation.
Federal officials probing Northborough construction accident, WickedLocal.com, July 17, 2008
Related Web Resources
Safety and Health Guidelines for Teen Workers, osha.gov
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), dol.gov