Continued from Part 1. Falling is one of the Fatal Four most frequent causes of construction worker deaths and injuries. U.S. OSHA has sought to reduce the numbers of construction worker deaths and injuries from falls by promulgating detailed rules that employers must follow to ensure their workers’ safety. Chief among these rules are extensive requirements regarding worker training, safety equipment, and fall prevention measures.
When a serious accident occurs and OSHA investigates, OSHA can fine the employer for any safety violations it finds, as the agency seems likely to do for the roof collapse in Brunswick. But OSHA’s investigations and fines won‘t directly help the injured workers. To hold the employer financially responsible for causing the injuries by failing to provide proper training and safety equipment, the workers generally need their own roof collapse injury attorneys who are experienced with the complexities of structural collapse cases and safety requirements.
Let’s Look at Some of the Common Factors in Roof Collapse Injury Cases
The recent roof collapse in Brunswick on an addition under construction that injured two construction workers clearly reveals the critical importance of adequate temporary bracing during construction and demolition operations.
The disastrous, deadly demolition collapse of a Philadelphia building into a Salvation Army Thrift Store has also been attributed in part to lack of adequate temporary bracing while the building was being taken down. Numerous reports have indicated that the entire demolition operation seems to have been hasty and improperly done. Lack of adequate bracing was only one of the problems.
And the lack of proper temporary bracing seems to go back in part to disputes between the lawyers of the building owner and demolition company and the Salvation Army. The lawyers were still wrangling about how to best proceed on the job when the demolition workers decided to get started anyway. Our roof collapse injury attorneys note that it’s not as unusual as you might think for clients to disregard the advice and admonitions of their lawyers and to simply go ahead with what they want rather than what might be most beneficial.
Improper Roof Truss Installation and Roof Collapses
When installing roof trusses, it’s important to properly calculate the loads that the trusses will have to support. Builders should also see to proper temporary bracing as we’ve mentioned, and to proper connections to the building’s other supporting members.
Building experts warn against the common habit of storing building materials and equipment on the roof and its trusses during construction. Such overloading, especially in combination with weak bracing, can lead to sudden roof collapses.
Pre-engineered roof trusses are a common feature in the building industry and are often pre-ordered and delivered to a building site. As the Brunswick roof collapse demonstrates, it’s vital to construct and install roof trusses in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and design documents. Our roof collapse injury attorneys emphasize that the manufacturer’s designers and engineers spent time accurately calculating weight loads, spans, and spacing of the pre-engineered roof trusses for a good reason.
Installation errors, damage to a truss or a component, or field modifications by construction workers to accommodate (for example) skylights, chimneys, or other roof openings could drastically affect the weight load that a truss can support. The roof could suddenly collapse and cause catastrophic or fatal injuries from falls and entrapment under heavy debris.
Contact the Experienced Roof Collapse Injury Attorneys at Denena Points, PC with Your Questions about a Serious Injury after a Structural Collapse
With 14 years of experience on complex personal injury and wrongful death cases, we understand building codes, OSHA worker safety regulations, and inspection requirements. We know how to establish the weaknesses in employer training and equipment provision that could help you prove your case.
Our roof collapse injury attorneys’ in-depth investigation could pinpoint the precise causes of your injuries and those responsible for them. Call us at 713-807-9500 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a FREE, no obligation legal consultation to discuss your accident and evaluate your eligibility for a full financial recovery for your injuries.
Continue to Part 3 to learn more about roof trusses and how they should work.