A worker fell to his death through the roof of a building in Houston Heights on Tuesday morning. The Houston work accident lawyers at Denena Points, PC report that the accident occurred around 11 a.m. in the motor sports building at Lamelia Lane and 11th Street. Police said a worker was placing materials on the roof when he fell. (Jill Courtney, KPRC click2houston.com, 4/1/14) Our condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the worker who fell through that roof.
The man’s fatal fall sadly underlines the danger of piling building materials on roofs. Experts indicate that overloading roofs, scaffolds, and other structures by placing construction materials close to hand for convenience’ sake is one of the primary causes of structural collapses. Our experienced Houston work accident lawyers emphasize that the extra weight destabilizes structures and their supports, particularly in partially completed buildings.
At the building in Houston Heights, the extra materials piled on the roof might have precipitated the worker’s fall through the roof. The employer might be liable to the worker’s family for failing to properly train the workers or to enforce proper safety practices at the site.
The family should consult with an experienced Houston work accident lawyer to discuss the specific facts of the case and learn their legal options. Employers are required by law to provide safe work environments for their employees. Holding them financially liable when they fail in that duty is one of the best ways to ensure that employers will feel compelled to see to safety at their worksites. Click the link to learn more about the potentially fatal danger of overloading roofs and other structures with construction materials.