Construction Worker Falls off Ladder and Dies in Georgia Work Accident

A construction worker died after falling from a ladder in a Georgia construction accident. The Glynn County coroner reports that the fall may have been caused by an electrical shock. After the fall, the worker was transported to Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to Florida Wires.

A preliminary investigation into the accident has so far only concluded that the subcontractor was on the ladder to turn on a piece of machinery. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be looking into the fatal work accident.

Our Georgia workers compensation lawyers understand that on the job ladder accidents most often result from noncompliance with existing Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards. For this reason, employers need to abide by safety regulations set forth by OSHA in an attempt to protect workers that use ladders on the job. Safety training and preventative measures need to be enforced at each job sit to reduce the number of fatal accidents.

According to OSHA, nearly 40 workers die because of falls from stairways and ladders used in construction each year. Another 25,000 people are injured from these types of accidents. The government also estimates that nearly 12,000 workdays are lost because of these injuries. Another 13,000 non-lost workday injuries result from falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. A number of these injuries could have been prevented if the proper safety measures were in place.

Here are some ladder safety tips, from Health and Safety Executive, to help keep you safe on the job:

• Assess the job before you determine which type of equipment should be used. Only use ladders for low risk situations, for short durations. Ladders are not to be used for tasks that could be done more safely and more quickly from equipment such as a cherry picker or a scaffold.
• Before you climb a ladder, make sure that it is secure and that it won't slip. Have someone hold it at the base, or use a suitable stability device, to prevent it from slipping.
• Make sure the ladder is on a stable, firm surface.
• Set the ladder at the correct angle. The ladder should be angled out one measure for every four up (75 degrees).
• Always adjust a ladder to the proper length. You should not work from the top three rungs of the ladder.
• Be sure to check the ladder for defects before you use it.
• Make sure that it is only used by people and workers who know how to use it correctly.
• Never step on the top step, bucket shelf or attempt to climb or stand on the rear section of a stepladder.
• Never leave a raised ladder unattended.

If you or a loved one has been injured on the job in Georgia, contact the Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys at Casey W. Stevens Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers. Call 877-217-7230 for a free case evaluation.