Regulations on fall protection that once only applied to commercial construction projects have been extended to residential builders and construction projects.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the change to fall protection regulations this year.  Shortly afterwards, the agency announced that fall protection violations were the most frequently encountered violation by the agency last year.

Currently, falls in residential construction projects account for 29 percent of all fatalities from falls in the construction industry.  35 percent of fatal falls in residential construction are falls from roofs.

The directive requires residential construction contractors to implement safety standards expected of commercial projects when workers are working at heights of six feet or higher.  Fall protection safety measures include personal fall arrest systems, safety nets, and guardrails.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident involving a fall, contact the Philadelphia construction slip and fall attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about how we can help you.

A worker was recently killed at a gas well site in Rome Township while working to move and lay gas pipe.  The accident occurred at the Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s well site.

According to accident reports, the 35-year old worker was operating a bulldozer when he slipped and fell off of the vehicle.  The victim fell into the bulldozer’s path and was ran over.

Officials pronounced the worker dead upon arrival at Memorial Hospital in Towanda, Pennsylvania.  The Pennsylvania State Police are working with the project’s contractor to investigate the cause of the fatal slip and fall accident.

Our utmost sympathies are with the victim’s family and friends after this tragic accident.