You’ve helped to build hundreds of houses all over Morris Plains. Your occupation requires you to reach areas that are high up, and you use the help of a ladder to get the job done.
You find yourself perched on a ladder every single day you are at work. In fact, you joke that the ladder is your “office.” As much experience as you have on the apparatus, you couldn’t believe it when you fell off and hurt your back. The accident wasn’t your fault, however, as a co-worker bumped into the ladder, causing it to tip over and knock you off.
Step on the Side of Caution: Tips to Stay Safe
Your back injury has left you out of work for weeks. In order to prevent this accident from occurring again, follow these tips to keep yourself safe:
- Place your ladder in a sturdy spot. Construction workers are often asked to compromise their safety by working in hazardous conditions. This may mean placing the ladder on ledges or other less-than-sturdy places. However, pleasing your employer is not worth the risk, and you should only set your ladder in an area that is completely safe; one that is both skid- and slip-proof.
- Maintain a three-point contact. Your risk of falling off decreases when you keep three points of your body in contact with the ladder. For instance, when climbing up or down, you should keep both hands and one foot on the ladder, or one hand and two feet in contact at all times.
- Look for overhead dangers. If working outside, look around you for overhead dangers, including power lines. Since it’s possible to become so focused on what you are doing you forget to look around, check the area before you become involved in working: it could save your life.
Construction Victims Have Rights
If you were injured in a construction accident that wasn’t your fault, the attorneys of Manfred F. Ricciardelli, Jr., may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to speak with a lawyer about your situation.
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