California Injury Blog
A worker was injured in a construction accident in Costa Mesa after he took a fall at a worksite. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred the morning of January 10, 2017. Firefighters were called to 580 Anton Blvd. after a man reportedly fell about 10 feet from the third floor of a building where he was working.
Fire officials said the worker, a man in his 30s, was unable to move or get up. “He was conscious, but had to be rescued,” officials said. Firefighters laid the man inside a basket and hoisted him up and out of the construction site with a mechanism of ropes and an aerial ladder. His injuries are not considered to be life threatening.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the worker who has apparently suffered traumatic injuries in this construction accident. We wish him the very best for a quick and full recovery.
Construction Accident Statistics
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), out of 4,386 worker fatalities in private industry in 2014, 899 or 20.5 percent were in the construction industry. In other words, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction. The leading causes of worker deaths in the construction industry were falls, followed by electrocution, struck by object and caught in/between. These “fatal four” were responsible for more than half (about 60 percent) of construction worker deaths, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
What Caused This Incident?
Based on this news report, it appears that the worker fell from the third floor. There are a number of questions here. Was he wearing a harness or was he equipped with fall protecting devices? Did he have proper job and safety training to do the job? Was he receiving proper supervision at the time of the incident? Under federal and state laws, proper fall protection must always be used if there is a fall hazard (4 feet for general industry and 6 feet for construction).
Compensation for Injured Workers
If you have been injured on the job, there are a number of steps you can take protect your rights and obtain the compensation you need. Report the incident right away to a supervisor and get a copy of the report for your records. Under California law, injuries in the workplace should be reported within 30 days of the incident. Get prompt medical attention, treatment and care for your injuries. Contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled workplace injury cases and third-party claims.
In addition to workers’ compensation you may also be able to file a claim against a party other than your employer such as a contractor, property owner or manufacturer of a defective product. An experienced lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options.