A construction worker has reportedly died after falling 15 stories in downtown West Palm Beach in a September accident.
According to law enforcement authorities, the worker was on the top floor of a building that’s under construction when he fell. His family’s attorney said that the man’s safety harness broke. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was investigating to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The general contractor at the site is KAST Construction, a company that is already under investigation for its possible role in the collapse of a brick facade on another building in West Palm Beach.
According to OSHA, falls are the number one cause of death in the construction industry — and they are often preventable. In fact, the federal agency has even organized and promoted a Fall Prevention Campaign, encouraging general contractors and site supervisors to plan ahead, provide the proper safety equipment and make sure everyone on site is trained on the equipment they are using.
Construction is an inherently dangerous field, and there are many ways in which workers can be injured or killed on the job. However, simply by taking the time to properly train workers and ensuring workers use effective safety equipment, employers can play a major role in preventing these accidents. In fact, a failure to take these measures could be considered negligence.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a construction site accident, you may need to seek compensation. For further guidance, consult a knowledgeable Jacksonville personal injury attorney today.
Attorney Mark Link contributed to this post.