We can all imagine the horror of losing a loved one to an accident that happens on the job. If you have a construction worker in your family, or friend group, then this fear might be more of a reality for you. When large-scale construction projects happen in St. Louis, Missouri the construction workers on the job can be at special risk for injury from an accident.
In a grand city like St. Louis, there is always something to build or fix in order to keep the city at the most beautiful and functional level it can be. Since St. Louis sits on a river, many of these construction jobs can take place on bridges above water. Or, construction might take place downtown where the buildings are high above ground. In either case, construction workers are often put in precarious situations where even the strictest safety measures don’t guarantee a safe return home.
Injury or death from a construction accident can leave an entire family scrambling for stability. If a construction worker is injured on the job, he or she could be out of work for a long period of time, or even for life. A serious enough injury can result in chronic pain, disfigurement, body parts that will never work the same again, and piles of medical bills. The death of a loved one from a construction accident can result in substantial economic values from funeral costs and loss of future income. Any way you look at it, a construction accident is the last event any family would want.
Unfortunately, construction accidents still happen.
And sometimes, the circumstances are very specific. For example: can you imagine if your loved one on a construction job disappeared right in front of your eyes? For one St. Louis family, that nightmarish situation became a reality. A story from the St. Louis Dispatch details the event, which took place in March 2012. Even though this accident occurred more than six years ago, the threat of a similar accident for other construction workers in St. Louis is very real.
A carpenter from Park Hills was working on the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge when the accident happened. He was working on an aerial man lift when it dropped into the water, taking him with it. The worker’s family was on site when he fell into the water; they saw it all. He was wearing a life jacket when he fell into the river but it proved futile.
A search of the river took place immediately and construction was put on hold temporarily. The St. Louis Fire Department sent marine rescue units, and a dive team from the Swansea Fire Department scoured the water for him. That night, his life jacket was recovered but his body was never found.
He worked for Massman, Traylor Bros., and Alberici — joint-venture contractors. According to the source, these contractors claimed to have a “superb track record” with safety; incidents that cause injury to their contractors rarely happen. This story goes to show that accidents can happen even on the most safety-cautious construction sites. It also goes to show, that although companies may claim to have a safety record, an investigation is critical to unraveling the truth.
In addition to the rescuers sent to the scene, federal workplace safety investigators took to the site to assess the situation and what might have caused the accident. This should be one of the first steps after any construction accident that results in injury to a construction worker. If investigators discover a hole in safety precautions or procedure on site, the construction company can be held responsible for the accident and injuries – and the implications that come along with those.
What does this mean for the injured construction worker and his or her family?
Most importantly, it could mean relief. Relief for pain, loss of income, recovery, time spent in the hospital, and medical bills. It’s not always the fault of the site manager or construction company when construction accidents happen but when it is, that means a construction worker has been wrongfully injured. It means the injury was preventable.
One of the most common types of construction accidents is falls. Similar to what happened to carpenter mentioned in the news story above, falls can take place in a split second and have detrimental consequences. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), anything that can make you lose your balance on a construction site is labeled a “fall hazard.” Site managers have the responsibility to be aware of these hazards and take any steps possible to protect workers from potential fall-caused injury.
If a construction worker is more than six feet off the ground, systems such as guardrails, a safety net, or a personal fall arrest apparatus should be in place. If investigators discover that these safety measures were not in place when a construction accident occurs, then the site manager or construction company could face liability.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a construction accident, one of your many concerns might be, “what’s next?” After an injury, you should focus on recovery. Take care of yourself or your loved one first and foremost; we can help with the rest.
Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law help people who have been wrongfully injured in construction accidents. We’ve helped individuals throughout Missouri and Illinois find relief after a construction accident and we can help you, too. Our attorneys have years of experience working with construction workers and other injured people after a St. Louis worksite calamity.
We want our experience to benefit you and your family when you’re in need.
If you or a loved one is suffering from a debilitating injury due to a construction accident in St. Louis, contact us. Our construction accident lawyers will work directly with you for the best outcome for your unique situation.
If you have any questions, call our office at (314)241-0763. Any hand we can have in preventing the suffering of workers and families is a good hand. We can answer any questions you have about the implications of a construction accident and what they might mean for you.