A private real estate company that does business in several states, including California, has stopped production on one of its projects due to a tragedy that recently occurred on the job site. The project, which was ongoing in another state, included the construction of a 17-floor, multi-family housing structure. Construction has been put on hold indefinitely, due to an ongoing investigation, which was initiated after several workers plummeted at least 70 feet from a scaffold.
Two workers suffered injuries when the scaffold collapsed. Sadly, three men died because of their injuries in the fall. One of the workers was a husband and father of four children. Another man was planning to retire soon, while the third worker who died was a young man who enjoyed skateboarding around the community in his free time. All three were greatly respected and loved by their families, friends and co-workers.
OSHA investigates construction accidents that result in fatalities
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration typically launches an investigation when a worker suffers fatal injuries on the job. An OSHA representative noted that such investigations may take months to conclude. One of the questions that investigators no doubt seek to answer is whether employer negligence was a factor in a construction accident that has caused loss of life.
In California and all other states, employers are obligated to provide proper training to workers and to comply with all federal and state safety regulations, especially when there is an inherent risk for danger on a job, such as workers who perform their duties on scaffolding, high above the ground. Construction accidents sometimes lead to litigation in a civil court, especially if the evidence suggests gross negligence by the employer. This is often the case when a spouse or parent of a fatally injured worker seeks restitution against an individual or group whose negligence was a causal factor in the death that occurred.