The top construction-related work injuries affect tens of thousands of Americans every year. Nobody expects to end up in the hospital (or worse) because of their daily working activities; unfortunately, though, construction is a dangerous business, and the risk of serious harm is one that many people in the industry face day in, day out.
The most common causes of serious injury in construction are referred to as the “Fatal Four.” They are:
Here, we explore each of these in detail and explain what to do if you’re forced out of work by a construction accident.
Falls account for the most construction site accidents resulting in death or injury. According to a study conducted by the Center for the Protection of Workers’ Rights, falls from a height account for around a third of fatal construction accidents annually.
Workers are susceptible to falling from roofs, scaffolding, and ladders, as well as slip-and-fall accidents on wet or uneven surfaces.
Fall protection must be provided to any worker operating at more than six feet above the ground. This includes safety gear, hole covers, warning signage, and training on proper use of safety equipment. If your employer fails to adhere to these rules, this may indicate negligence.
Falling objects pose a serious risk on construction sites. Machinery and building materials (such as bricks, cement blocks, and wooden planks) can cause severe harm when they fall from scaffolding. Also, cranes and forklifts can sometimes lose control of their cargo while in motion, leaving workers at risk.
The most effective safety measure you can take to protect against the risk posed by falling objects is to wear protective headgear at all times. While injuries to other parts of your body can be debilitating, your head is the most vulnerable part of you when it comes to falling objects, and brain injuries are among the most serious types of bodily harm you can suffer.
In 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) changed the requirements regarding the helmets worn by employees. The agency switched from traditional hard hats to more modern safety helmets, citing the lack of chin straps and side-impact protection on older headgear.
Another piece of kit that can greatly reduce the likelihood of struck-by accidents is the tool lanyard. These keep tools attached to the belts of operators while they’re on scaffolding and ladders, reducing the risk that they will fall and cause an injury.
For non-electrical workers, the leading cause of death and serious injury by electrocution is contact with overhead power lines. You might also suffer electrocution if you touch lighting equipment or another object (such as a ladder, pole, or crane) that’s in direct contact with a power line.
To lower the risk of electrocution while on-site, you should:
These are incidents in which workers are caught or crushed in collapsing materials, machinery, walls, cave-ins, or vehicles. According to OSHA, the key difference between an injury like this and a “struck-by” injury is that these accidents happen when workers are caught between objects, rather than injured by a single impact.
These types of injuries are preventable with proper training, engineering controls, safety protocols, and personal protective equipment.
Construction is inherently dangerous to some degree. However, this isn’t the whole story. In reality, companies within the industry could be doing more to ensure that people working on jobsites stay safe.
According to official statistics, 5 of the 10 most commonly violated OSHA standards apply to the construction industry (they are the requirements related to fall protection, ladders, scaffolding, fall protection training, and eye and face protection).
No one should have to work in an unsafe environment. If you’ve suffered an injury that may have been related to your employer’s failure to provide proper safety equipment or training, you may have grounds to sue for negligence. You should be aware, though, that filing for workers’ compensation benefits may preclude you from filing a lawsuit like this. To learn more about these rules and how they might affect you, you’ll need to consult with a lawyer.
If you have been injured due to the negligence of another party, contact our construction accident lawyers at The Cochran Firm Philadelphia today for a free consultation at (800) 969-4400, or get in touch via our online contact form.
