Officials are looking into the death of a worker who was killed at a construction site in Massachusetts. According to a news report, the man was killed on the worksite of a library renovation. The young man was working alongside the foundation of the building when he was allegedly struck by a piece of rock that had broken free. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Construction sites can be very dangerous and unfortunately accidents do happen. We urge you to exercise extreme caution at work and to call an experienced Fall River workers’ compensation lawyer, if you are injured on the job.
How Did The Accident Happen?
The deceased worker was employed by an excavating company that was doing work on the building’s foundation. The company was working on the underpinning of the library and the victim was working under their direction. While the victim was near the base of the building he was crushed under some rock that came loose. Construction has been halted at the worksite and contractors met to discuss safety for the $31 million renovation project. Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it is investigating the fatality.
The contractor for whom the man worked had 10 OSHA safety violations dating back to 2009 in six states. In Massachusetts, it had one violation that was deemed “serious” in 2015 related to safety training and education for its employees. The company was ordered to pay a $4,500 penalty, which settled the matter.
How Often Do These Accidents Happen?
In the year 2015, out of 4,379 worker fatalities in private industry, 937 or 21.4 percent were in construction. One in five worker deaths last year were in the construction industry. The leading causes of private sector worker deaths in the construction industry were falls, struck by object, electrocution and caught-in/between accidents.
These so-called “Fatal Four” were responsible for more than half (64.2 percent) the construction workers’ deaths in 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. It is estimated that eliminating the “Fatal Four” would save 602 workers’ lives in America annually. Falls account for 38.8 percent of all fatal construction accidents, struck-by (9.6 percent), electrocutions (8.6 percent) and caught in/between (7.2 percent). If you or a loved one is injured or killed on the job, do not hesitate to contact an experienced Rhode Island construction accident lawyer to help you understand your legal rights.
Call d’Oliveira & Associates Today!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, there are a number of steps you can take to ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected. First and foremost, report the incident and your injury to your employer and/or supervisor. Secondly, get prompt medical attention, treatment and care for your injuries. Also, try to obtain as much evidence as possible from the scene of the accident including any malfunctioning equipment and eyewitness statements and contact information. We work with some of the most experienced workers’ compensation lawyers across the country, who obtain compensation for workers’ injuries on a regular basis. Call us at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form online, for a free (no obligation) case evaluation.
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Paul d’Oliveira
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.
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