Maryland employers can help limit workplace accidents

Maryland workers are not exempt from accidents that occur on the job. Workplace accidents, mostly falls, are reported as being the leading cause of death for construction workers. What makes the statistics all the more real, when presented, is how many of the accidents could be prevented by training employees properly. Worksite safety and providing the proper equipment is crucial for construction workers to be safe while performing a job well and in a timely manner. When employers don’t implement training, accidents can happen.

The incident occurred around 11:50 a.m. on May 11. Two workers were unloading doors at an apartment complex. By leaning through the third floor window, the men were unloading the doors from a crate and were using another crate to stand on. The crate that was being used as a platform came loose from the hydraulic lift that it was placed on. The crate plummeted to the ground, taking both men with it.

One worker was pronounced dead by paramedics on the scene. The second worker was transported to a local hospital and is being treated with life-threatening injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration continues its investigation into the events that led to this tragic event.

Employers have an obligation to provide a safe work environment and to help ensure that their employees are trained in proper safety measures for their tasks. When employers fail to heed to the law, workplace accidents and fatalities can occur. Families can be left with devastating circumstances on top of the loss of a loved one. Medical bills and lost wages can pile up and with the help of a Maryland attorney, families can seek compensation in a civil court.

Source: jacksonville.com, “Jacksonville police: 1 dead, 1 hospitalized after industrial fall at construction site“, Garrett Pelican, May 11, 2017