New Jersey construction workers face some of the highest injury accident risks. The construction industry involves hazardous work, and many workers are injured or killed each year. Because of the risks of injury, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has strict safety regulations in place that govern construction sites.
OSHA reports that 350 out of the 937 workers who were killed in construction accidents in 2015 died in falls. Fall accidents are the leading cause of construction fatalities, and OSHA is focused on punishing companies that violate its safety provisions. Companies are required to use fall protection systems to protect their workers whenever they need to work at heights. The workers are also supposed to have safety gear to help to prevent them from falling.
In an effort to deter construction companies from cutting corners and violating OSHA’s safety standards, the agency has been assessing penalties. One roofing company in Florida was fined $1.5 million for repeatedly violating OSHA’s fall protection regulations. OSHA also sometimes publishes the names of companies that are repeat violators to help to deter others from violating the rules.
New Jersey’s workers’ compensation laws help to protect workers by mandating that employers carry insurance coverage. When workers are injured, they are able to file claims with their employers. In exchange for accepting workers’ compensation benefits, workers give up their rights to file lawsuits against their employers. Injured workers may file claims in order to recover benefits to pay for their medical bills, treatment costs, rehabilitation costs and other related expenses. If they are disabled by their injuries, the workers might also be able to recover temporary or permanent disability benefits. Experienced workers’ compensation attorneys may help their clients to file their claims and work to help them to recover the benefits to which they should be entitled.