On December 3rd, 2013, a construction worker performing a routine inspection on Clifton Road slipped and fell into a deep hole. He was temporarily submerged in water until the DeKalb County Fire and Rescue crews arrived on the scene and used a crane to lift him out.
Since the accident occurred on the new Emory University Hospital construction site, university officials hurriedly issued a statement addressing the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating that “…an incident occurred during an inspection in which water entered a portion of the site and surrounded a worker…the cause of the water intrusion is under investigation.”
While we at Pope & Howard, P.C. understand the need for tact and diplomacy, it’s hard to believe that any PR official managed to address an accident in which a worker fell into a presumably unmarked hole on a construction site without mentioning the words “hole” or “fall.” What’s more, safety officials are trying to find out how “water entered a portion of the site and surrounded a worker” instead of investigating why or how the accident itself occurred.
As Atlanta trial lawyers who handle construction cases, we understand that accidents can happen. But when construction companies spend all their time working to brush these accidents under the proverbial rug, we also know that safety is not a top priority. Companies and construction firms that value people over productivity don’t hide from accidents—they learn from them.
Founded by Geoff Pope and Marc Howard in 2005, Pope & Howard, P.C. is an Atlanta-based trial law firm that specializes in construction site injuries, tractor trailer accidents, and other cases involving catastrophic personal injury. Contact the experienced trial lawyers of Pope & Howard, P.C. at (866) 910-0642 to schedule your first consultation.