Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

In 2009 alone, 605 workers were killed and over 210,000 were injured in slip and fall accidents in the workplace. Construction sites are the number one workplace for serious slip and fall accidents, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Construction sites pose a number of hazards that can cause a slip and fall accident. These hazards include:

• Slippery or cluttered walking surfaces;
• Holes in floors and walls;
• Unstable or badly-positioned ladders and scaffolding; and
• Defective or improperly-used fall prevention devices.

To help cut down on the major risks that can cause accidents, occupational health and safety offices at the state and federal level have implemented a vast number of regulations for construction sites. When these are ignored or violated, however, serious slip and fall injuries can result.

Missouri construction slip and fall accidents also result in high costs, especially for the person injured. The CDC estimates that $70 billion in medical bills, lost wages, and other costs result from construction site slip and fall injuries each year. Workers’ compensation insurance may cover some of these costs for injured workers, but this coverage is not available for those who are injured on construction sites when they are not actively working there.

If you or someone you love has been injured on a construction site, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation, insurance, or other compensation. At Page Law, our experienced St. Louis slip and fall injury lawyers are dedicated to helping injured people seek the compensation they need to recover from their injuries. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (314) 322-8515.

Retail chains that carry nail guns may offer misleading information about the gun’s safety - that is, if they offer any safety information or advice at all.

According to Occupational Health and Safety Magazine, a study by researchers at Duke University uncovered some unsettling news about the sale and purchase of nail guns. Researchers conducted a study in which they visited 217 home-improvement stores that sell directly to contractors or retailers. The researchers, posing as contractors or “weekend warriors” planning a construction project, asked store employees about the nail guns available and whether the guns had any safety issues the users should be aware of.

At almost three-quarters of the stores, however, researchers received misinformation about the safety risks posed by nail guns, such as information that the nail guns were safe to use despite stories of users who were injured by the same nail gun. At 59 percent of the stores, researchers received no safety information at all, even when they asked specific questions about nail guns and safety issues related to particular types of nail gun. The researchers concluded that the salespeople didn’t have access to the safety information customers need, and that the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) would be wise to create safety standards for nail gun use.

Construction accidents caused by defective tools or by someone using a tool incorrectly can cause lasting damage to a worker’s health and way of life. If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident, the experienced Missouri construction accident attorneys at Page Law can help. Call 314-322-8515 today to schedule a free consultation.