Trip & Fall - Trip Injury near an Active Construction Zone Expert Article

In this case, William E. J. Martin, AIA, NCARB, who was previously a licensed general contractor, was retained to determine whether rigging equipment, which was left outside of the secured construction site, created a dangerous condition that caused the plant employee’s injuries.

Municipal Facility Trip

Expert Investigates Trip Injury Involving Rigging Equipment

A contractor undertook reconstruction work on a water treatment plant. The treatment plant remained in operation during the duration of construction, and treatment plant employees continued their usual duties, including inspections at all times of the day and night. Rigging used to lower demolished concrete by crane during the day was left in a walkway used by plant employees during their nighttime inspections. One of the employees tripped over the rigging and sustained serious injuries.

William E. J. Martin, AIA, NCARB, who is also a licensed general contractor, was retained to determine whether the rigging created a dangerous condition which caused the plant employee’s injuries. We determined that the rigging had been left outside of the secured construction site, violating standards for protecting the general public from ongoing construction.  Those standards are published by ANSI, OSHA, the state’s labor and safety agency, federal standard specifications and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The contractor did not secure tools and materials properly and created a tripping hazard by storing crane rigging in a walkway which caused a dangerous condition for employees of the treatment plant. We determined that the contractor could have eliminated the tripping hazard if contractor personnel had performed a cursory inspection of the worksite’s perimeter at the end of the workday.

By failing to recognize the tripping hazard created by improperly stored rigging, and by failing to eliminate the tripping hazard by storing the rigging in a secured, defined lay down area, the contractor violated the standards of care for protecting the general public from hazards associated with ongoing construction. The matter resolved favorably for our client prior to trial.

Slip, Trip, and Fall Investigations

Slips, trips, and falls are our most common premises investigations. Our experts have diverse experience in the design, construction, and administration of buildings and facilities. Many of our experts are involved in the professional organizations that develop standards for premises safety and materials testing. 

Submit an inquiry or contact the author of this article for more information. 

Featured Expert

William E. J. Martin, AIA, NCARB

Architecture, Construction & Premises Safety Expert

Will investigates cases involving construction disputes and defects, workplace and construction site safety, premises safety, and architectural professional practice. He has more than thirty years… read more.