New Jersey Accident and Injury Law Blog : New Jersey Injury Lawyer & Attorney : The Grossman Law Firm : Serving Monmouth County, Bergen County

A New Jersey company has been fined for safety violations in the workplace that could have proved hazardous enough to cause a construction accident. Peach State Roofing, a roofing company in Sicklerville, Camden County was fined $50,000 for a dangerous fall hazard. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors located the hazard during one of their routine inspections of a work site in Sicklerville, where two employees of Peach State Roofing were working. These two employees, according to OSHA, were not provided adequate fall protection, although their work site was located about 13 feet off the ground. This was a repeat violation for the roofing company. 

The construction industry has one of the highest rates of workplace fatalities among all industries in the country. The number of accidents has decreased in recent years because of stricter OSHA guidelines that mandate personal fall protection systems for workers who are working at a certain level from the ground, access to proper and well maintained equipment as well as training to perform their job well. Yet, every year, hundreds of workers employed on construction sites in varying capacities are seriously injured in avoidable accidents. The roofing industry for instance, sees an average of 38 deaths a year, and most of these are linked to fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents are also commonly seen among brick layers, as well as iron workers. Although work in this industry is inherently risky, most of these accidents are entirely preventable. When employers make provisions for fall protection systems, guard rails, sturdy ladders, and ensure that work sites are free from slippery surfaces or obstructions that can pose a fall hazard, there is a minimal risk of accidents.

Monmouth and Bergen County Construction Accident Lawyers

Workers who have been injured on a construction site are eligible for Workers Compensation benefits under New Jersey law. In addition, they may also be eligible for benefits from other parties that may have been responsible for the accident. For instance, engineers, architects, suppliers and manufacturers of defective equipment - these may be liable in the event of an accident. An experienced Monmouth and Bergen County construction accident lawyer can help a worker recover compensation from all parties that are liable. If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact a Monmouth County and Bergen County construction lawyer at my office to discuss all your options for compensation.

 

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A federal jury recently awarded an Iowa man $10 million for emotional distress and pain and suffering after ruling that his employer's insurance carrier acted in bad faith in denying his claim for benefits from a back injury.

The plaintiff, Kris Zimmer, a computer technician for Norwest Financial, injured his back while bending over to pick up dropped papers. He was diagnosed with severe back pain, but his worker's compensation claim was denied by Travelers Insurance Company. Travelers argued that that Mr. Zimmer had a history of back problems that included at least two prior surgeries and that the injury worsened his pre-existing psychological conditions. But the jury didn't buy Travelers' argument. A decision regarding punitive damages is still pending. Read about it here.

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A new survey whose results were published in the March issue of Pediatrics found that millions of American teenagers are working in dangerous environments, performing unsafe tasks in violation of the law and without proper training or supervision.

Among teens surveyed who worked in the service or retail industries, 52 percent of boys and 43 percent of girls reported working with hazardous equipment such as slicers, paper-balers and box-crushers. Meanwhile, 37 percent of those under 16 reported working past 7 p.m. on school nights, which is illegal.  Click here to read more.

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