When people think about worksite hazards and injury risks, they often imagine dangers posed by heavy equipment or job tasks that require working at heights on scaffolding or similar materials. Yet it is important to know that work injuries have a wide variety of causes, and certain types of job-related injuries can happen in almost any kind of workplace. One particularly common kind of workplace accident is slip and fall. Indeed, slip and fall accidents can occur almost anywhere, and they can result in serious and sometimes catastrophic injuries. What do you need to know about worksite slips, trips, and falls? Consider some of the following information from our Albany worksite injury lawyers.
Same-Level Slips and Fall Accidents Can Be Severe and Deadly
Slips and fall accidents, or trips and falls, are more dangerous than you might think. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), it is critical to understand that “a worker doesn’t have to fall from a high level to suffer fatal injuries.” Indeed, in 2020 alone, 136 workers suffered fatal slip and fall injuries caused by same-level falls. Likewise, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that almost 20 percent of all work-related fall injuries that result in serious injuries and missed workdays are classified as slips, trips, or falls.
Slips, Trips, and Falls Can Happen At Almost Any Workplace
You should know that slips, trips, and falls can occur at nearly any workplace. While they can certainly happen at worksites that already pose notable injury risks like construction sites or manufacturing plants, these types of injuries can also occur in restaurants, retail work, health care settings, and even in office buildings where workers perform jobs that are primarily behind desks. These accidents can result from tripping hazards in walkways, liquid spills that lead to slips, damaged flooring or torn carpeting, and more.
Slips and Falls on Construction Sites Could Give Rise to Negligence Lawsuits
In most worksite slip and fall cases, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy. However, when a slip and fall or a trip and fall occurs on a construction site due to negligence, it may be possible for the injured construction worker to file a lawsuit against the employer under New York Labor Law.
Contact an Albany Work Injury Lawyer
If you have questions about seeking compensation after a slip and fall injury at work, one of our Albany work injury lawyers can help you. Contact Powers & Santola, LLP for assistance.
