Construction Workers and Elevator Accidents

While on construction sites, workers are particularly at risk of accidents related to the maintenance and repair of elevators. Elevator accidents result in an average of about 30 fatalities and 17,000 injuries each year, with construction workers at an even greater risk due to defective equipment, employer negligence, or unestablished safety guidelines.

Falls into an unmarked elevator shaft are common among construction workers, accounting for over half of the elevator accidents each year. Other types of elevator accidents that occur at construction sites include:

• Uncontrolled falls of elevator cars while the worker is inside
• Workers caught in the elevator doors or from other moving parts of the elevator
• Electrical shocks or burns
• Scaffolding falls
• Struck-by incidents

Elevator Accident Injuries

Elevator installation and repair are among the most dangerous jobs in the construction industry. This is within a field that already has the highest number of fatal injuries, according to a report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Often, injuries in the construction field can be catastrophic, leaving workers permanently disabled. These injuries include:

• Crush injuries from falling elevator cars
• Nerve damage due to working in restricted spaces
• Traumatic brain injury from struck-by objects or falls from high elevations
• Broken bones
• Wrongful death

City centers are prone to have a higher volume of elevator construction. In New York City, a man suffered fatal crush injuries when an elevator moved down three floors while under repair. In Atlantic City, two brothers were fatally injured from being hit by a moving elevator while under repair. These injuries can be prevented with proper practice and training of safety protocols. OSHA has certain guidelines that protect construction workers, and employers should be following these guidelines daily. Workers and employers should be thoroughly trained on the safety and dangers presented at construction sites and how to prevent and avoid accidents. Managers should also supervise the construction areas for work safety and any present dangers.

Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Advocate for Victims of Elevator Accidents

If you or someone you know has been injured due to an elevator accident on a construction site, or any other type of construction accident, please contact the Philadelphia construction accident lawyers at DiTomaso Law. Call us today at 215-426-4493 to assist and analyze the evidence regarding your accident. Schedule your free and confidential consultation or submit an online inquiry form. With offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we proudly serve the counties surrounding Philadelphia and South Jersey.