Why are falls such a big problem on LA construction sites?
Falls from ladders, scaffolds, roofs and unprotected edges are the number one cause of death in the construction industry nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Cal/OSHA's own fall prevention campaigns. Los Angeles has a huge volume of residential remodels, multi-story builds and commercial projects, often with tight deadlines and subcontractor chains. That mix creates pressure to skip guardrails, harnesses and proper scaffold tie-offs.
A fall rarely happens because a worker was careless. It usually happens because a ladder was not secured, a scaffold plank was missing, a guardrail was never installed, or nobody provided fall protection equipment at height. Cal/OSHA requires fall protection for most work done above 7.5 feet in construction, and fines contractors who ignore it. None of that matters to your body when you hit the ground, but it matters a lot to your claim, because it shows the job site was not set up safely.
Whether you fell two feet off a ladder or twenty feet off a roof, the injury counts, and so does the claim.
This article is general information about California workers' compensation, not legal advice about your situation. Every case is different.
Yazdchi Law, P.C. — Eman Yazdchi, responsible attorney. Office: Palmdale, California. Attorney advertising.