Center City Death Shows Hazards of Aerial Lifts
Construction is the second-most dangerous occupation in the nation. A Philadelphia worker’s fatal fall in October from 125 feet as his aerial lift toppled is one example.
According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article, the worker who fell was a highly trained union journeyman with an expertise in high work. However, the type of equipment he was using in Center City can pose problems on construction sites.
It carries the risks of any large piece of machinery, yet is used by all sorts of tradesmen.
The man was working on the stone exterior of a Philadelphia Church on October 12 when a wheel of his aerial lift broke through a utility panel on the sidewalk.
The lift swayed and then crashed to the street. He was killed by the impact.
Aerial lifts act as a mechanical and movable alternative to scaffolding.
Most apprentice programs offer basic training in using the lifts, which includes routine instructions on being harnessed properly, checking the ground surface, and not moving the lifts while they are extended.
Specific training on each machine is usually provided by the contractor or rental company. Sometimes the training is not extensive and OSHA regulations do not specify how much training is enough. Training costs can also be a factor.
The Inquirer reported that in 2008, 969 workers died in construction accidents nationally. Of those, 332 died in falls and 201 in contact with objects and equipment. Transportation accidents and exposure to dangerous environments killed most of the rest.
In the Philadelphia area, 15 construction workers died in 2008 — five from falls, four in transportation accidents, three from contact with equipment, and three from exposure to dangerous environments.
A worker who has been injured on a construction site would be well advised to contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney who can carefully examine the incident to identify any negligence or wrongdoing. An experienced attorney would also look into a “third party claim.” These are claims that are filed against parties that are not the worker’s employer. It could be a contractor, a sub-contractor, or even the manufacturer of a defective product. If it is determined that one of those parties was responsible for the accident and any injuries, then they could be held liable.
Any worker who has sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of their employment has a potential workers’ compensation claim. The injury can occur while traveling on business, doing a work-related errand, attending a required business-related social function, or even while on a break or using restroom facilities and you are still legally covered by workers compensation.
The dedicated work Pennsylvania injury lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano will do everything possible to get the monetary compensation that is owed to you to help pay medical bills, physical therapy, loss of work and more.
Source article: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/business_breaking/20091015_Center_City_death_shows_hazards_of_aerial_lifts.html
