Safety in the workplace is essential no matter what industry. However, it can be particularly important in the construction industry in California since there are significantly more dangers of injury compared to many other types of work environments. On the other hand, if work safety authorities investigate an incident, it can result in citations, which can be costly to the company and would require an employer defense strategy.
One construction company may be facing this situation following a recent workplace accident that caused the death of a construction worker. The 61-year-old worker fell from a crane while working at a construction site at a bridge. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now reportedly investigating the incident, which happened one day in early May.
The worker fell from the crane while he was on the west side of the road leading from a new southbound bridge. The man suffered a head injury that proved to be fatal. The incident happened at approximately 2 p.m. OSHA is expected to look into the incident for several weeks before completing its investigation.
The construction company will likely be watching the developments of the OSHA investigation closely. If OSHA decides to issue citations for safety violations, the decision could be highly detrimental to the construction company. The need for an employer defense strategy may arise since these types of decisions can be significantly damaging financially for a construction company or any other employer in California. However, in order to formulate a strong legal defense, an employer will need to have an understanding of the applicable rules and regulations.
Source: newstimes.com, “New Milford man killed in construction accident“, Susan Tuz, May 5, 2015
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