New Nib Addresses Structure Site Safe Issues Inwards Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Construction Accident Prompts Safety Legislation


The structure industry has ane of the highest rates of workplace accidents in addition to injuries. According to a recent article inwards The Philadelphia Inquirer, a deadly construction accident that occurred inward 2013 has prompted legislators to have activity when it comes to structure site rubber. A new bipartisan beak proposed by State Representatives Michael Driscoll too Todd Stephens “would demand parties to hold themselves responsible for the accidents in addition to injuries they crusade.” In other words, the novel law would brand existent estate developers as well as general contractors liable for construction injuries caused past  condom violations.


As the article explains, Pennsylvania is ane of the few states inwards which “developers as well as general contractors accept been able to require subcontractors in addition to suppliers—such people equally roofers and electricians—to assume all responsibility when an accident or injury occurs.” Why is this the example? Pennsylvania does not take the same type of anti-indemnification laws that other states have. Indemnification clauses ofttimes necessitate subcontractors to accept liability for accidents too injuries that happen on structure sites, even if the general contractor or the owner of the property was at error.


In full general, subcontractors hold to function for contractors that waive whatever responsibility for worksite injuries because, if they make not, they recognize that other subcontractors will have the jobs instead. In other words, subcontractors frequently experience force per unit area to hold to such damage inwards club to notice go. Yet the newly proposed legislation would change this, requiring full general contractors to have responsibility for whatsoever injuries to structure workers together with subcontractors. The anti-indemnification bill would get in and so that “whatsoever contract that requires a subcontractor to concord some other party harmless would be unenforceable.” 


The proposed legislation grew inward office out of serious structure accidents inwards Philadelphia, nearly notably a 2013 edifice collapse in which half-dozen people suffered fatal injuries. While the proposed legislation is aimed at making the construction manufacture fairer inward Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania, it could besides have the upshot of making worksites safer.


Getting the Facts About Construction Accidents as well as Injuries


The following are facts as well as figures from the Occupational Safety as well as Health Administration (OSHA) related to structure accidents in addition to injuries:



  • Nearly 21% of all fatal workplace injuries require structure workers;

  • In 2017, 971 out of 4,674 worker fatalities were suffered past workers in the structure manufacture;

  • Falls are the leading drive of injury and expiry in structure, accounting for nigh xl% of all fatal construction site injuries;

  • Construction’sec “fatal iv” account for well-nigh sixty% of all construction worker deaths, as well as the fatal 4 include falls, struck-by injuries, electrocutions, as well as caught-inwards/betwixt injuries;

  • Fall protection is the nigh usually cited rubber violation on construction sites; in addition to

  • While the overall rate of workplace injuries together with fatalities has declined over the years, a full of five,147 workers all the same sustained fatal injuries on the task inwards 2017.


Were you lot injured inwards a structure accident, or was someone y'all dear injure on the task? You should hash out your options alongside an experienced construction accident lawyer.