Caught-Between Accidents on the Rise
Between 2011 and 2015, 275 construction workers lost their lives in caught-in and caught-between accidents. These types of construction accidents, which are part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Focus Four Initiative, occur when a worker is caught or crushed in or between equipment, objects, or a collapse of materials. That is a 33 percent increase in fatalities, which tops the overall 26 percent increase in construction fatalities during that same period.
Employees in the iron working industry experienced the highest rate of fatalities during the above period. Older workers were at the highest risk of fatal injuries in caught-in/caught-between accidents, while workers under age 20 were at a high risk for both fatal and non-fatal accidents.
Caught-in and caught-between accidents can be fatal and traumatic because they often involve very heavy equipment or materials. Causes may include:
- Using unsafe equipment
- Lack of training or instruction
- Working on moving equipment
- Improper guarding on machines
- Incorrect hitching practices
- Working under mental or physical stress
Construction accidents can be traumatic and debilitating. If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident of any kind, please call the New Jersey construction accident lawyers at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP at 732-777-0100 or contact us online. We will provide the knowledgeable guidance you need to obtain the compensation you deserve. Our offices are conveniently located in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, New Jersey, and we represent clients throughout the state.
Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP has purposely remained small in size, because it is important to us that we get to know our clients and their needs. Larger NJ injury firms may churn out case after case, but that’s not how we operate. Partners Barry Eichen, William Crutchlow, and Daryl Zaslow have created a firm with the resources to handle complex litigation, and a team that takes your case personally.
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