When safety protocols aren’t followed, construction workers face a variety of risks on job sites, many of which can lead to severe injuries and even fatalities. Familiarizing yourself with common construction accidents and injuries can help you stay safe and avoid potential risks. Please continue reading to learn about the top construction site risks and how a determined Morris County Work Injury Attorney can help protect your legal rights to compensation.
What Are Common Causes of Construction Accidents?
While there are numerous risks that construction workers face on the job, the most common and often life-threatening accidents that occur on construction sites include:
- Falling
- Electrocution
- Caught in/between equipment or machinery
- Being struck by an object
Falls are the leading cause of construction site injuries. They often occur when a worker falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, chimneys, etc. The severity of the fall depends on how far from the ground the worker was at the time of the accident and the circumstances of the fall. In some cases, safety equipment helps mitigate the damage. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of 4 feet in general industry and 6 feet in construction. This is also needed when working over dangerous equipment and machinery. OSHA regulations must be adhered to to prevent fall-related construction accidents.
Construction work is often performed near power lines and power sources, meaning it’s easy to hit power lines with equipment mistakenly. Although safety precautions are in place, electrocution accidents still occur. Defective machinery and exposed wires can contribute to these accidents.
Construction workers are also at risk of being struck by objects from above, such as tools or flying debris. Therefore, the necessary safety precautions must be executed when work is being performed overhead. However, despite wearing a hard hat, workers can still suffer serious injuries that may even be fatal if an object strikes them. Furthermore, when a worker is crushed under, between, or inside heavy objects or machinery, it’s considered a caught-in/between accident. These often occur on construction sites. For instance, a worker may be crushed by a trench wall that caves in or is pinned inside a piece of equipment.
What Are Common Injuries on Construction Sites?
Construction sites inherently pose a higher risk of catastrophic injuries that can result in permanent disability. Some of the most common injuries and medical conditions suffered by construction workers as a result of workplace accidents include:
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Brain and head injuries
- Back and spinal cord damage
- Chemical exposure illnesses
- Eye and ear injuries
The injuries mentioned above can be detrimental to your overall health and future. Depending on the severity of your injuries, they could place you in a financially difficult position, as they may prevent you from earning a living. Therefore, it’s advisable to consult an experienced attorney from Lutz Injury Law, who can help you fight for the justice you deserve and determine whether you’re eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.