What is OSHA?
Workplace safety is a serious issue among major industries in the U.S. including the construction industry, manufacturing industry, trucking industry, etc. Dangerous conditions often lead to work accidents and injuries, the vast majority of which are 100% preventable.The federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration was founded nearly 50 years ago in 1971 and is responsible for establishing and enforcing workplace safety standards. In addition, OSHA is tasked with investigating reports of OSHA violations, workplace fatalities and serious workplace injuries.
Over the years, OSHA has established and amended various standards to improve workplace safety across industries. The vast majority of employers in the U.S. come under OSHA jurisdiction. However, OSHA does not apply to government workers and workers in certain industries like the mining industry.
Related Case Result: $101 million – The collapse of a parking garage at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City that injured over 30 construction workers on the job and killed 4 men working on the project (largest construction accident settlement in U.S. history).
Each year, roughly 4,000 workers are killed in on the job accidents. Fortunately, the number of work accident deaths has been steadily decreasing from year to year. In 2013, just over 4,400 workers died in work related accidents, and in 2012, there were roughly 4,600 deaths.
Hands down, the construction industry accounts for the highest percentage of work accident deaths in the U.S. This is due to the inherent dangers of construction, both residential and commercial. Among the various industries, roughly 20% of the total number of annual work related fatalities occur in the construction industry. In 2013, there were just under 800 deaths in the construction industry, and in 2012, there were a little over 800 deaths. Many construction related deaths occur in the specialty trades such as foundation work, roofing, etc.
More: Workplace Accidents in Pennsylvania & New Jersey – Violation of OSHA Regulations
Workers who are injured while on the job have legal rights to compensation. There are two sources of compensation: workers’ compensation and negligence lawsuits. While workers’ compensation usually provides for medical treatment and a portion of lost pay, negligence lawsuits can result in compensation for pain and suffering, as well as compensation for medical bills and lost wages.
Many workers are simply unaware of their legal rights to file negligence lawsuits. Many believe their only legal recourse is filing for workers’ comp. Time and time again, an injured worker and their family seek the advice of a work accident and injury lawyer when it is too late; the applicable statute has expired. That’s why it’s important to seek advice from a work accident injury lawyer as soon as possible after a serious work accident occurs.
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
| Total Violations |
67,941 |
64,763 |
58,702 |
| Serious Violations |
49,616 |
47,934 |
42,984 |
| Willful Violations |
439 |
527 |
524 |
| Repeat Violations |
2,966 |
3,088 |
3,146 |
| Other Violations | 14,503 | 13,016 | 11,895 |
Injured workers can receive fair and reasonable financial compensation for their injuries in a tort or negligence lawsuit. These types of lawsuits are commonly referred to as “third party” lawsuits or claims. The third party refers to an individual or entity which committed some act of negligence that led to the accident. Claims for financial compensation include medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
In states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, when injured workers file negligence lawsuits, they can make claims for what was already paid out by the employer/workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
For example, a roofer injured at a worksite in Pennsylvania makes a claim for workers’ compensation benefits and receives a total of $10,000 of benefits between medical treatment and lost pay.
The injured roofer can also file a negligence lawsuit and recover the $10,000 that was paid out by workers’ comp in addition to compensation for pain and suffering. Then, the injured worker would be required to reimburse the workers’ comp carrier/employer for at least a portion of the $10,000. This is known as a workers’ compensation subrogation claim. Laws relating to workers’ compensation subrogation vary from state to state.
Visit our Work Accident & Injury Law Library for more information.
If you were injured due to an OSHA violation, call our work accident and injury lawyers immediately to explore your legal options. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation, and can obtain special admission in other states, such as New York or Delaware, on a case by case basis.
OSHA violations are a leading cause of workplace injury and death. Our attorneys know the regulations. We understand the rules that employers are required to follow. There’s nothing more important than keeping workers safe on the job.
Because construction sites are busy places, multiple parties may be held liable for a construction accident injury. Injured workers have the legal right to seek compensation for negligence committed by general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, etc.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1100 Ludlow Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
(215) 399-9255
