Sadly, construction work is one of the most dangerous industries in the country for employees.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which recently released a preliminary report on worker fatalities in 2013, there were 796 construction accident deaths. The report indicated that 4,405 workers died in the United States last year.
This is why safety on construction sites is taken very seriously. Unfortunately, Vallencourt Construction Co. Inc., a Florida employer, was recently fined $169,000 following a June 2014 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
ForConstructionPros.com reported that the company was cited for two willful and five serious safety violations.
According to ForConstructionPros.com, the company was fined for “allowing employees to work in an excavation without cave-in protection and failing to ensure soil and rocks were two feet from the excavation’s edge to prevent these materials from falling in and injuring workers.”
The website reported that the company was previously inspected by OSHA in 2007 and received six serious citations. The company reportedly specializes in land clearing, water and sewer installation and paving.
It is unacceptable when employers place workers at risk.
Can I File a Lawsuit If I Am Injured at Work?
Workers who sustain injuries on the job deserve compensation. However, workers’ compensation sometimes fails to provide as much as an injured worker needs to recover. When this occurs, make sure you speak to an attorney, as you may be able to file a lawsuit.
We will fight for you. Contact an experienced injury attorney to fight for what you are owed.
Did You Know? Since 2006, construction accident fatalities are down 36 percent.