Roofer’s Fatal Fall Reminds Workers of Risks of Working on Construction Sites

A New Hampshire man died on Monday from injuries he sustained after he fell off of a ladder at a residential construction site.

The roofer, 58, was working at a home in Rye, New Hampshire, when he slipped off the ladder and fell 30 feet. Rye Fire Lieutenant Ron Hordon said the man, who has not yet been identified, suffered “significant” injuries to his chest, pelvic, and abdominal areas after landing on a deck. The man was working for a roofing company at the time of the fall, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently investigating the incident.

Unfortunately this incident is just another example of how dangerous construction sites can be. Whether it was a misstep by the victim, a manufacturing defect with the ladder or any other circumstance that caused the fall, ultimately the roofing company may be liable. By OSHA standards, employers are responsible for providing safe work environments for all of his or her employees to prevent hazardous situations that pose the threat of serious bodily injury or death. Though the details of this situation are still vague, what can be discerned is that had proper safety precautions been taken; such as the use of a safety harness, the man’s death may have been prevented.

Carpenters and roofers incur dangerous situations on a day-to-day basis, and among these types of workers, falls are the leading cause of injury or death. In a report published by The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational and Safety Health, out of the 32 reported work-related deaths in Massachusetts last year, 6 of them were cause by falls. Unsurprisingly construction site causalities accounted for the greatest number of work-related deaths (19%) and remained the most dangerous industry for employees to work in.

When a loved one has been killed on the job, there is undoubtedly no amount of money that can compensate you for your loss. As a surviving spouse or the child of the worker, you may file a workers’ compensation claim in order to receive financial relief for the loss of your loved one’s life. The spouse and children of a deceased worker may be entitled to recover 60% of the average weekly wage that the worker would have earned and other benefits depending on the circumstances.

At Altman & Altman we have been helping the families of injured and deceased workers for almost 50 years. If you have a question about workplace injury or if your loved one was the victim of a workplace fatality, call one of our experienced Boston Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for a free initial consultation to discuss filing a workers’ compensation claim. One of our seasoned lawyers at Altman & Altman will thoroughly investigate your work injury case and examine all avenues of recovery for you. There may be third parties who can be held liable for your loss, such as the manufacturer of a defective piece of equipment or a negligent contractor, and we can file claims or lawsuits against all negligent parties so that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Original Article Here.