Fall Protection Violations | Workplace Injury

Fall Protection Failure Lawsuits

Falls remain one of the leading causes of serious workplace injuries and fatalities across the United States. Yet many employers continue to ignore or violate fall protection standards. These violations often occur in construction settings where workers routinely operate at heights or near unguarded edges.

When companies fail to provide proper fall protection, injured workers may have grounds to file a legal claim for damages.

Understanding Fall Protection Requirements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to protect employees working at heights of six feet or more in construction, and four feet or more in general industry.

These protections can include safety nets and fall arrest devices, and employers must ensure that workers are trained to use the safety gear correctly and that equipment is routinely inspected for wear and defects.

Unfortunately, many employers neglect to anchor harness systems properly or allow untrained employees to work at dangerous elevations. When such violations lead to an accident, injured workers have the right to pursue compensation beyond workers’ compensation benefits.

Construction site falls are among the most common causes of severe work-related injuries and deaths. Fall protection violations are also among the most cited safety violations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) each year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hundreds of workers die each year as a result of falls at construction sites. But the majority of fall injuries can be prevented if management and contractors take the necessary precautions and provide a safe work environment.

Construction sites are notoriously dangerous workplaces, and workers face a number of safety hazards on a daily basis. Employers have a duty and a legal responsibility to follow basic OSHA guidelines for constructing and maintaining fall protection on scaffolding and elevated platforms.

Joe Lyon is an experienced OSHA Attorney and fall protection violations Lawyer investigating scaffolding and Ladder Fall Accidents for injured plaintiffs nationwide.

Scaffolding & Ladder Fall Protection Standards

Fall protection is not required for portable ladder use in general industry or construction work, but fixed ladders require more attention. Fall protection systems can be simple or complex, they only need to protect workers from potential fall accidents.

High traffic areas on platforms and work spaces should be kept cleaned and free from slippery spots and debris. Employers must address slippery surfaces as such issues in a prompt manner. Adding textured or punched surfaces and steel or metal grating can help workers keep their footing, as can providing proper footwear.

There are many types of fall prevention systems that can help reduce the number of accidents, including guardrails, top rails, mid rails, hand rails, and toe boards.

When fall prevention systems can’t be used, employers should provide personal fall arrest equipment like harnesses and anchoring devices that reduce the chance of injury or death. Roofing Fall Injuries account for about a third of all construction fall fatalities.

Fall Protection Violations Lawyer & Settlements

If an injury occurs as a result of fall protection violations, contact a workplace injury lawyer and you may be able to recover costs related to the accident.

Work safety attorney and product liability lawyer investigating OSHA safety violations and injuries related to defective fall protection equipment. Any injury linked to a defective harness or lanyard may result in a valuable personal injury lawsuit.

The company also is responsible for making sure their safety equipment is well-maintained and up to date on OSHA safety standards. Construction supervisors and foremen must ensure that all workers are equipped with safe personal safety materials, and are properly trained for a specific work site.

Fall protection needs to be adjusted for each situation and each work site. Managers of work sites must be familiar with OSHA fall protection systems.

Legal remedies may depend on individual circumstances, and The Lyon Firm works with industry experts to investigate any accident and build the strongest case possible. Contact us for a confidential and free case review.

Recalled Equipment & Defective Harness Cases

Although many lives have been saved with stronger safety standards and PPE, many workers have suffered injuries due to defective materials.

Industrial manufacturers like 3M, Honeywell, Gravitec, Falltech, and Condor provide millions of dollars’ worth of fall safety equipment to construction companies, utility outfits, window washers, oil companies and others. But the equipment may fail if it is poorly produced or is not used properly.

In 2019, 3M announced the recall of the 3M™ DBI-SALA® Twin-Leg Nano-Lok™ edge and the Twin-Leg Nano-Lok™ Wrap Back Self-Retracting Lifeline. The products are part of a personal fall protection system recall due to “major issues” that the company said “could expose the worker to serious injury or death.”

Construction Fall Lawsuits

According to national statistics, an average of two people die in the U.S. each day from falling from a height.

According to a CDC Archive report, slips, trips, and falls were responsible for 18% of the non-fatal work injuries in 2020 that resulted in days away from work. Workers most risk for a fall accident include:

• Cell phone & Mobile tower workers
• Utility workers
• Construction workers
• Window cleaning workers
• Oil & Gas workers

If you or a loved one has suffered a fall injury due to failed fall protection equipment, or a defective harness, call Joe Lyon to speak with a qualified personal injury attorney.

For years, The Lyon Firm has worked with safety engineers that are familiar with OSHA fall protection and work safety violations.

The Lyon Firm has recovered millions in compensation for clients by holding large companies accountable for negligence and defective products. Even if a company is unaware that their products were defective at the time of distribution, they can still be held accountable in the court of law.