According to 2017 statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls were the leading cause of death on constructions sites. Falls accounted for 39.2% of all construction-related deaths.
On May 3, a subcontractor working in the Broward County area on The Optima project fell approximately 100 feet down an empty elevator shaft. The accident has puzzled many who work on the site, including the project’s chief operating officer for the construction manager NV2A. While the man did not identify the victim or the company he worked for, he said that the laborer was very experienced and highly skilled. The site’s supervisors also do not understand how the accident happened because there wasn’t any scheduled to be done on the elevator shaft.
The chief operating officer said the company holds regular exercises to emphasize and refresh the need for safety. “In fact, we had a comprehensive refresher training for all our staff and subcontractors specifically on fall protection and prevention just one month ago,” he said.
The Optima project began 2013 and is supposed to be finished this year. It will be “part of a multi-tower office complex.”
When someone is injured or killed in a construction accident, a workers’ compensation claim may be filed to provide the injured worker with partial pay, medical bill coverage and other benefits. Death benefits are also available through workers’ compensation for those workers who gave their lives.
If you have been injured or you have lost a loved one in a construction accident, it is important to file a claim for benefits as soon as possible. If your claim is denied, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you file an appeal for the benefits you deserve.