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Preventing residential construction accidents: OSHA Crackdown
What needs to change is the employer-employee culture.
Change is needed to include all workers, not exclude residential construction workers.
While the home building industry says they want to do the right thing – they don't.
OSHA's standards are minimal at best and yet, are still not enforced by the residential construction company and even by OSHA. Due to the lack of personnel and resources within OSHA, enforcement within the home building industry is lax.
Do You Have a Residential Accident Lawsuit? »
Residential construction companies purposely recruit Hispanic and foreign born workers for many reasons:
- Workers don't retain employee status therefore no benefits
- Workers are paid in cash and "under the table" (no records)
- Workers are grateful to have jobs and don't make waves
- Workers are not unionized nor hip to safety rules or personnel matters
- Workers are easily manipulated, frequently motivated to work faster, not safer
- Workers are afraid to file claims for injuries
- Information is rarely translated into Spanish and workers don't ask questions
OSHA crackdown
At the National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety on April 14, 2010, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said that OSHA has to place large fines on unsafe workplaces that cut corners on worker safety and workers should be thoroughly trained in workplace safety.
In September 2010, OSHA shook things up with a crackdown on fining companies. For instance, a Blandon, Pa., brass foundry was fined $550,400 for exposing workers to lead and other workplace hazards. An Altoona, Pa. company that manufactures solder products received proposed penalties totaling $169,600 for lead exposure. An Ohio auto parts manufacturer, agreed to pay $820,500 in penalties and implement a comprehensive safety and health program at its Columbus, Ohio plant to settle a case brought earlier this year.
Change is needed on every level from the worker to the supervisor to the company culture to federal oversight and regulatory enforcement.
Contact Our Construction Accident Lawyers Today »
An OSHA crackdown is too late for your family if someone has been severely injured or died from inadequate residential construction practices. Anapol Schwartz attorneys may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf to fight for medical expenses, loss of income, and quality of life. Contact a lawyer today in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, or Ohio.
