There are a number of jobs that require people in Pennsylvania to work from heights, and safety gear is worn by these workers to arrest their fall if they lose their footing. However, keeping someone from falling is just one part of preventing severe injury; people may also experience orthostatic intolerance, better known as suspension trauma, as a result of a fall.
Suspension trauma generally results from someone being in a full-body harness for an extended period of time after a fall. A person with suspension trauma may also experience weakness, sweating, fainting or the accumulation of blood in their veins. In some extreme cases, this may result in death.
In most cases, suspension trauma happens to people who are unconscious and in full-body protective gear, and it normally occurs within a few minutes of the individual falling. Due to the potential danger to workers in this situation, OSHA regulations require that people are rescued and removed from gear as quickly as possible, and contact should be made with a worker within six minutes according to Fall Protection Code.
If someone has been injured working on a construction site, the injury may be severe enough to require medical attention or even time off work to recover. Workers’ compensation exists to provide these individuals with coverage of their medical expenses as well as a percentage of the wages lost if time off of work is needed. Additionally, workers’ compensation benefits may also allow for a settlement for short-term or permanent disability. Individuals applying for these benefits may want to speak with a lawyer who could explain the approval process and what levels of compensation they might be eligible for.