Despite the fact that there are several rules and regulations in place to protect construction workers, countless injuries occur every year on construction sites throughout New York City. In many cases, these injuries are the direct result of decisions made by property owners and general contractors to skirt — or outright ignore — these mandatory safety guidelines.
While it is impossible for safety regulators to identify every safety violation that occurs on every single construction site, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified the top-10 most frequently cited violations for 2016, which include:
- Fall protection violations
- Violations related to hazardous chemical/material communications
- Scaffolding-related violations
- Respiratory protection violations
- Violations related to the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
- Powered/industrial truck violations
- Ladder-related violations
- Machinery guarding violations
- Electrical wiring violations
- Electrical system violations
While some of these violations could also apply to other industries, every single one could potentially impact the safety of a construction worker. In fact, these violations could put the very life of a construction worker at risk, which is why workers should never be forced to cut corners when it comes to safety, regardless of how quickly the job needs to get done.
If you or a family member has been injured while working construction, you may have legal options, particularly if the general contractor or property owner failed to following proper safety regulations. Contact one of our experienced attorneys today to learn what options may be available.