How can we limit the number of accidents on Texas construction sites?

In 2009, workplace accident fatalities in Texas totaled 480. This is not very different from the 475 fatalities that occurred in 1996, which shows how little progress has been made. Construction remains the industry with the largest number of fatalities (138), followed by transportation and warehousing (76).

On top of that, several thousands of people get hurt on Texas construction sites every year, suffering often debilitating injuries like broken bones, severed limbs, burns, cuts, traumatic head injuries, or spinal cord damage. Many workers also suffer from intoxication or recurrent back and neck injuries.

What is it with construction sites?

By nature, construction sites are unfinished, crowded, chaotic, and ever-changing. These are some of the reasons why so many workers:

• Fall from scaffolding or ladders;
• Get hit by moving equipment, heavy machinery, or falling objects;
• Fall into holes and suffocate under collapsing trenches;
• Get burned, electrocuted, or intoxicated;
• Suffer burns and cuts and hit protruding metal structures.

These and other risks are compounded by the way that some contractors recruit and pay their workers and organize the site. Some sure ways to increase the accident rate include the following: hiring low-paid, untrained, and unskilled illegal workers, who are often unable to understand instructions in English; putting ever-changing teams of new workers on the job; distributing the work to an array of subcontractor firms; and putting everyone under pressure to reach unrealistic deadlines.

Putting profits before safety is also the reason why some general contractors ignore the legally required safety regulations. These regulations are wide-ranging and complex, and an employer or contractor's disregard of them can have a significant impact on the outcome of your work accident claim. Some examples of safety regulations are:

• Guards on all moving parts;
• Personal protective equipment;
• Lock-out/tag-out of powered machinery;
• Working in confined space;
• Safeguarding of excavations and trenches;
• Permissible exposure limits.

Construction site accident lawyers J. Gregory Marks and Michael Guajardo are the top-rated, Dallas-based legal advisors that you need to get the highest possible compensation after a work accident. Call Guajardo & Marks LLP at (214) 354 9755, or send us an email for a FREE discussion of your case today.