The construction industry is known to include a number of risks for workers. In order to address these safety concerns, officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforce various regulations to help ensure that construction workers return home safely at the end of the day.
At times, however, safety precautions are not enough to protect workers and construction site accidents happen. In early November, a 19 year-old man was severely injured while working on a bridge construction project that spans the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. Although the circumstances behind the incident are still the subject of an OSHA investigation, some safety precautions appear to have been in place when the young man fell almost 45 feet.
When first responders arrived to the scene of the work-related accident, they found that the construction worker was still in his safety harness. Despite the fact that the man was wearing a harness, he fell to the riverbed dozens of feet below the bridge’s spans.
According to news reports, the construction worker suffered injuries that could have claimed his life. Only weeks after falling at the worksite, the young man is on a path to recovery. This is likely very encouraging news for the family, especially considering the details of the accident.
The ongoing OSHA investigation could uncover safety violations, which generally result in a fine. No matter what the workplace safety agency finds, the construction worker may still be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage. This is one of the most important protections provided to workers who suffer health problems as the result of their jobs.
Source: Winona Daily News, “Worker who fell from bridge ‘getting stronger every day’,” Nov. 27, 2013