A worker was critically injured in a fall at the Kemah Boardwalk in Texas on January 24, 2022. During the incident, the worker was performing maintenance on the Boardwalk Bullet roller coaster, about midway up the tracks. Officials estimate he fell between 35 to 50 feet onto a platform located below. Reports indicate the worker has a safety harness to protect him from a fall, so it is unclear at present how the incident was able to occur. The worker was taken to the trauma center at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake Hospital. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this tragic incident.
Falls are one of the most common incidents resulting in workplace injury or death. There must be an adequate system in place to ensure that all works receive necessary fall protection devices and training to understand when and how to use them. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided “at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.” The simple reality is that a proper safety harness can prevent most catastrophic incidents before they occur.
One mechanism to safely evaluate and prepare for risks of working at height is through the use of a Job Safety Analysis (“JSA”) or Risk Assessment, which is standard in the industry. When this does not occur, it can result in catastrophic personal injury or death. In a JSA, each step of the job is examined to identify potential hazards and to recommend the safest way to perform the work in order to minimize those risks. According to OSHA:
A job hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, and the work environment. Ideally, after you identify uncontrolled hazards, you will take steps to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable risk level.
OSHA recommends JSAs be performed for any jobs with the potential to cause severe or catastrophic injuries.
Our experienced lawyers have handled personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits of all kinds and have the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured. The experienced construction personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an accident.
Our lawyers have represented numerous workers who have sustained serious and catastrophic injuries on a job site as a result of the negligence of another party. There are strict and short time limits on making claims, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.