What Violations Cause the Most Construction Accidents?

Year after year, construction is ranked one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, with the same safety violations frequently causing serious accidents. If you’re working on construction projects in New Jersey, knowing what these recurring safety failures look like is crucial. Being informed is your first line of defense. Please keep reading as we explore what you need to know, and contact our determined Hudson County Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for guidance. 

What Is the “Fatal Four,” and Why Does It Matter?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uses this nickname for the four types of accidents that cause over 60% of all construction deaths in the U.S. If you’ve suffered a workplace injury, checking if your accident falls into one of these categories is a smart first move:

• Falls: These are the leading cause of construction fatalities. 
• Struck-By-Accidents: This happens when you’re hit by a falling tool or moving machinery. 
• Electrocutions: Getting shocked by live wires or equipment. 
• Caught-In/Between: Being crushed or pinned by heavy gear or collapsing structures. 

New Jersey employers have to follow strict rules to prevent these accidents from happening. If they fail to do so, it could open up an avenue for more compensation through a third-party liability claim. 

Why Has Fall Protection Been the Top Violation for 15 Years Straight?

The law says if you’re working 6 feet or higher, your boss has an obligation to keep you safe. However, fall safety is still the most ignored rule on the books, resulting in thousands of tickets every single year. Here is what usually goes wrong: 

• Missing guardrails on high ledges or roofs. 
• Harnesses that aren’t provided or don’t work right. 
• Leaving holes in the floor or roof wide open and uncovered. 

Is a Lack of Training Also a Serious Safety Violation?

Yes, it’s not just about having the necessary gear; it’s also about knowing how to use it. If a New Jersey employer can’t prove that you have been trained by a professional or failed to maintain the necessary paperwork to show for it, it’s a separate violation that helps prove the construction site wasn’t run safely. 

How Does an OSHA Violation Help Your New Jersey Legal Case?

In New Jersey, workers’ compensation standard, but it doesn’t always cover everything. If another company on-site, like a general contractor, committed a safety violation, you can sue for additional damages. An OSHA citation is crucial evidence because: 

• It’s concrete evidence that a real safety law was broken. 
• It helps link your injury directly to someone else’s negligence. 
• It makes it much harder for the other side to say the accident was just “bad luck.” 

Construction accidents are preventable. If a safety failure led to your injury, you likely have more legal options than you think. Contact Lerner, Piermont, Riverol & Lawlor, P.A. for a free consultation. Our dedicated legal team will investigate the circumstances of the accident, preserve evidence, and fight to hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence.