Construction sites are inherently dangerous places. The workers are often placed in precarious positions, usually high up in the air; there are numerous pieces of equipment that are sharp and dangerous; and there is plenty of heavy machinery that needs to be operated and used. All together, these aspects put construction workers in danger every day.
The site managers and contractors need to do everything they can to prevent an accident in such a hazardous workplace. If they fail to uphold the rules and regulations they are held to, not only will people get hurt, but the negligent company would be liable for those injuries.
As many West Virginia football fans know, a new stadium is being built near San Francisco for their professional franchise. The $1.3 billion dollar facility is under construction; but a couple of weeks ago, they had to halt work for a couple of days due to a fatal accident. A man who was working on an elevator died after a counter weight fell on him. The firm in charge of the elevators is now under scrutiny.
The company, Schindler Elevator Corporation, has been involved in numerous safety violations in the past — including a “serious accident” just a couple of years ago. The company’s troubled past, couples with any negligence that may be discovered in this incident, could substantiate a wrongful death claim by the man’s family.
The investigation in this case will be carried out by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is standard for construction accidents. The results of the OSHA investigation can also support a wrongful death claim.
Source: NBC Bay Area, “Elevator Worker Dies at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara,” Lisa Fernandez, Bob Redell and Alan Waples, June 12, 2013
