Waterford Fall Accident: Worker Injured In Waterford Fall Accident At Erie Canal Lock 5 Near Flightlock Road
WATERFORD, NEW YORK (February 19, 2020) – A 45-year-old state worker was injured in a fall accident at the Erie Canal Lock 5 by Flightlock Road.
New York state police officials are saying that the accident happened around noon. For reasons that remain under investigation a worker fell 7 feet while conducting work.
Paramedics arrived at the scene of the accident in order to help the victim. The Waterford Police Department are saying that the man was drifting in and out of consciousness. He was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.
The area was covered in snow at the time of the accident. It remains unclear if inclement weather may have contributed to what happened.
An investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Waterford Fall Accidents
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States. According to Occupational Health and Safety, “Fatal falls were at their highest level in the 26-year history of the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and accounted for 887 workers’ deaths, according to BLS, which also reported Dec. 18 that fatal occupational injuries involving confined spaces rose 15 percent to 166 in 2017 from 144 in 2016.” There are a number of measures that companies can take to prevent fall accidents including:
- Giving workers personal fall arrest systems
- Giving workers proper training
- Assessing workplace conditions to help keep workers safe
- Complying with OSHA safety standards
All private and government employers must take measures to prevent workers from being injured in falls. In fact, building owners and general contractors are held strictly liable for workplace falls under New York Labor Law 240(1). They must take measures to ensure that workers are given the right training and equipment to prevent falls from happening. The law applies to workers that are performing job duties on a qualifying structure. It does not apply, however, to one and two story family homes. Victims of workplace falls tend to suffer from very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Head trauma
- Organ damage
- PTSD
Any worker that is injured in a fall accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A construction accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your rights are. There are, however, statute of limitations associated with pursuing civil claims. It is, therefore, important to act quickly.
Investigating A Waterford Fall Accident
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our thoughts and prayers to the worker who was injured in this accident at the Erie Canal Lock 5 near Flightlock Road. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to OSHA as they continue to investigate. Fall accidents are largely preventable when workers are given the resources that they need to stay safe. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened and measures should be put in place to prevent similar accidents from happening.
