In early November of 2011, a 58-year-old man was killed at work when a tape measure fell 50 stories and hit him on the head while he was delivering sheet rock at a New Jersey construction site.
According to the Courier-Post, the Somerdale, New Jersey, man was listed on the police report as working for a Charlotte, North Carolina-based company, National Gypsum, at the time of the incident. The tape measure that hit the man weighed 1 pound, according to a spokesperson for the Jersey City Department of Public Safety.
The tape measure fell after it was knocked off the belt of a worker on the 50th floor of a building on the construction site. After leaving the worker’s belt, the tape measure hit some construction equipment around 10 to 15 feet above the ground, which caused it to ricochet and hit the Somerdale man.
The 58-year-old worker was taken to the hospital following the incident, where he died later that day. Although he was listed as working for National Gypsum on the police report, the company said he was only delivering one of its products and actually worked for an independent trucking company.
The Deadly Reality of Falling Objects in Construction
The construction industry faces a grave and often underestimated danger: falling objects. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 42,400 incidents of “struck by falling object” occur annually in the US. Construction workers are particularly vulnerable, with struck-by incidents accounting for 15.4% of work-related deaths.
In fact, falls and struck-by hazards are two of the “Fatal Four” causes of construction deaths, alongside electrocutions and caught-in/between accidents, collectively responsible for 56% of all construction fatalities.
OSHA estimates that over 50,000 struck-by incidents occur annually on construction sites alone, emphasizing the urgent need for stringent safety protocols and vigilance.
Lawyer for On-the-Job Injury in Rock Hill, South Carolina
Following an on-the-job accident, there are many benefits you may be entitled to that you could be unaware of, including:
- Being allowed to seek a second opinion if you don’t feel you’re getting the medical treatment you need
- Being eligible for a higher average weekly wage
- Being owed a higher recovery amount
To learn more about the workers’ compensation process and why hiring a North Carolina workers’ comp lawyer can help you, contact us today. Give us a call or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with an attorney.
Source: Courier Post – Somerdale man killed by falling tape measure
Note: This information is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. You can only receive legal advice by meeting with an attorney.