Pennsylvania workers have the right to a reasonable expectation of safety in the workplace. One important aspect of this is making sure all types of employees know how to do their jobs safely. Safety training is important, especially when employees have to work from heights. Accidents involving falls can result in serious or fatal injuries.
Recently, a Pennsylvania company was fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over repeated safety violations regarding fall protections. This happened after a worker fell on a job site and died. The penalties levied by OSHA amount to around $74,000. The subcontractor at the job site is also facing fines because of the fatal accident.
This tragedy occurred after a worker fell approximately 20 feet to the ground while he was working on the framing of a residential structure. OSHA says that with the proper fall protection, this tragedy could have been prevented. When workers are more than 6 feet off the ground, there are supposed to be guardrails in place and other measures to keep workers safe, such as a safety net. In the previous two years, this same employer was cited by OSHA for safety violations and lack of fall protection.
Safety measures can prevent accidents involving falls on a Pennsylvania work site. Safety is a serious issue, and employers are responsible for adhering to regulations and standards designed to keep workers safe. If someone does suffer an injury while on the job, he or she could have grounds for a workers’ compensation claim. After a fatal work accident, the family of the deceased could seek death benefits through the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.