Workplace Accidents: Learning Lessons at School

It is still unknown what caused the building to collapse during construction. On April 2nd, workers were constructing a new building on the campus of Argyle High School in Texas when the walls buckled inward and the ceiling collapsed, killing one worker and injuring a half dozen more.

But even as investigators were struggling to determine just what went wrong, a second fatal accident occurred on school grounds when a man was hit and killed in front of the school. One would think that people would have been on high alert for safety after the terrible accident just weeks earlier, but somehow people still weren’t paying attention.

Though building collapses are rare, construction accidents in general are not. In fact, construction remains one of the most dangerous jobs a person can have. Some sobering statistics include:

• Ten percent of construction workers are injured each year
• The most common cause of OSHA fines is failure to provide proper fall protection, and falls are the most common cause of fatal accidents in the construction industry
• Approximately 20 percent of all fatal workplace accidents occur in construction
• One out of every 200 lifetime construction workers (those who work from ages 18-retirement) will be killed on the job

It is difficult to be certain why some job sites have a higher injury rate than others, but repeat accidents are strangely common. If you or someone you love has been injured on the job, it is important you contact an attorney. Companies often pressure their workers to take unfair settlements, and only an experienced lawyer can help you be certain you are getting a fair deal.