How Lack of Training Leads to Construction Injuries in CA? 2025

There are dangers in nearly every industry, but the risks that are often lurking in construction can all too often lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has substantial regulations designed to keep California construction workers safe. Yet, accidents still happen. You might be wondering: how does lack of training lead to construction injuries in CA? Canlas Law Group, APLC, shares some helpful information.

Construction Regulations in California

Cal/OSHA creates and enforces workplace safety regulations designed to reduce hazardous conditions. California companies must follow set Cal/OSHA standards, which generally require employers to provide safe, hazard-free workplaces.

Cal/OSHA regulations exist to keep construction workers safe across California. However, accidents tend to happen in four areas – often referred to as ‘the fatal four’ by OSHA. These include:

• Falls
• Struck by objects
• Electrocution
• Caught-in/between accidents

These injuries are often responsible for the majority of workplace fatalities for construction workers, especially when employees are inadequately trained.

Inadequate Training

Inadequate training often leads to injuries because California construction workers may:

• Lack familiarity with safety protocols. Workers are then often less likely to understand and be able to follow important safety procedures, which can then cause accidents.
• Not use equipment safely. If workers don’t receive sufficient training, they may use equipment incorrectly, which can lead to malfunctions, serious accidents, and catastrophic injuries.
• Fail to recognize hazards. This failure to appreciate hazards could lead to substantial hazards at a construction site and expose many workers to dangerous situations.

Such insufficient training generally increases the likelihood of serious workplace accidents. Construction workers with limited experience and insufficient training are generally more likely to cause accidents and sustain injuries.

Workplace Injuries/Fatalities Statistics

Inadequate training has resulted in an increased risk of accidents. Lately, the construction industry saw 1,069 fatalities nationwide in 2023, which represents a significant number of deaths, placing construction at the top of the list of industries with the most on-the-job deaths.

Serious injuries can happen as well. In 2023, California recorded 38.9 million residents, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted approximately 363,900 workplace injuries/illnesses.

Insufficiently-trained workers can experience injury/fatality rates at a higher rate of injury than those who are appropriately trained.

Employer Costs of Insufficient Training

If an employer doesn’t sufficiently train construction workers, it could be responsible for employee injuries. The cost for employers extends well beyond employee pain and suffering, as employers could face:

• Lost productivity
• Paying an employee’s medical costs
• Legal consequences

On average, about 11% of full-time workers across the U.S. do not have health insurance, but this number is more like 40% to 50% for construction workers. Also, many construction workers can’t get workers’ comp benefits if they’re hurt because their employers are unlawfully misclassifying them as independent contractors and not employees. Then, these uninsured workers are often responsible for their own medical costs if they’re hurt at work.

Lack of training can often lead to construction injuries in CA. Misclassified workers—including unpaid interns given hazardous tasks without proper training—often fall through the cracks of workers’ comp coverage. If you need help with a construction-related accident, speak with a trusted attorney about your recovery options. They can help investigate your case and often can maximize your claim outcome.

FAQs About Construction Injuries Caused by Lack of Training in California

What Should I Do if I Was Involved in A California Construction Site Accident?

If you were involved in a California construction site accident, you should report your injury to your employer. They can help get medical attention and provide the paperwork you need to start a workers’ comp claim. You can help build your claim by documenting your workplace accident by taking videos and photographs of the accident scene and asking any witnesses to complete a witness statement.

Then, consider consulting an experienced attorney who can help consider all avenues of recovery.

What Should I Do if I Think My Employer Didn’t Give Enough Training to Workers?

You can report any unsafe construction site conditions to Cal/OSHA without risking any negative actions by your employer. You can file an OSHA complaint, which may prompt a safety inspection if your company doesn’t fix the dangerous conditions.

For further information, visit websites like:

• General workplace information: dir.ca.gov/dosh
• Cal/OSHA regulations: dir.ca.gov/samples/search/query.htm
• Cal/OSHA health and safety publications: dir.ca.gov/dosh/puborder.asp

What Can Happen if Employees Are Insufficiently Trained?

If construction company employees do not receive sufficient training, they can cause accidents, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. Specifically, employees are often the victims of fall accidents, including falls from heights (which are often the cause of fatalities for construction workers) and falls at the same level (slips and trips).

To prevent falls, employers can use sufficient fall protection equipment, keep areas well-lit, keep areas clean, make sure workers use proper footwear, follow safety protocols, and train employees.

What Happens if My Employer Doesn’t Purchase Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Regardless of the amount of training they give you to protect against workplace accidents/fatalities, an employer who fails to buy workers’ comp insurance is violating the California Labor Code. If an employer is uninsured for workers’ comp benefits, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) can issue a formal stop order to close down business operations (until insurance is purchased).

Contact Canlas Law Group, APLC

Insufficient training for workers can lead to catastrophic construction injuries and fatalities in CA. If you need help with a California workers’ comp claim, contact an experienced attorney at Canlas Law Group, APLC, to discuss your situation. We can help from the start of your claim, and we also help clients who have been denied the benefits to which they’re entitled. We can work with you through each step of the workers’ comp process.

The Canlas Law Group lawyers have experience representing clients throughout California with different types of workers’ comp claims, including for preventable construction-related injuries. Speak with an experienced attorney at our office. We’re located near the 605 and 91 Freeways, and we have plenty of convenient client parking.

Contact Canlas Law Group to schedule a no-cost consultation with an experienced California attorney.