Los Angeles Workers' Issues and Personal Injury Blog

The construction industry is clearly one of the most hazardous employment options. This is partly because of the substantial range of potential injuries construction workers face in California and across the country. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health published the results of a survey conducted to determine the role of six particular health risks in construction workers' accidents.

Falls are reportedly the primary cause of occupational fatalities in the construction industry, and researchers studied the additional impact of health issues on the existing physical and chemical hazards. The six health-related risk behaviors include smoking, binge drinking, smokeless tobacco use, not wearing seat belts, inactivity during leisure time and lack of sufficient sleep. Participants of 38 occupations in the construction industry responded to the survey, from laborers to project managers.

You might be one of many California workers who typically perform the same types of tasks, day in and day out, in the workplace. Perhaps, you drive a commercial vehicle to make package deliveries or work on an assembly line in a factory. Then again, maybe you're an office employee who spends hours on end sitting at a desk, typing, answering phone calls or doing other clerical work.

Some jobs are inherently more dangerous than others. A worker who is navigating California traffic every day is likely more at risk for immediate injury than someone whose duties take place in an office setting. Don't assume, however, that just because your job is not one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation that you will never suffer injury in the workplace. In fact, many workers who perform repeated tasks on the job wind up having health problems due to repetitive stress injuries.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of a vineyard worker. Reportedly, the incident that occurred on a recent Friday involved tree removal. Rescue workers from Cal Fire also responded after receiving an alert about a worker who suffered critical workplace injuries.

An incident report indicated that the man fell from a height of 60 feet while working on the removal of a tree. Reportedly, the fall caused fatal injuries. The coroner's office received a call shortly after noon, reporting the worker's death.

The list of safety hazards on construction sites is endless. Without compliance with the safety standards prescribed by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, construction workers' accidents are sure to happen. Falls from heights are frequently cited in death benefits claimed from the workers' compensation insurance program.

An ironworker on the SoFi Stadium construction site in Inglewood recently lost his life when he fell from the roof. This tragedy led to the suspension of all construction activities on the site while Cal/OSHA investigates it. The circumstances that led to the 60-foot fall was not reported. It is also not clear whether the deceased worker wore personal protective equipment to arrest his fall.