Construction work is one of the essential professions in the country. Some people understate this type of job and do not appreciate how vital construction workers are for our lives, economy, and well-being. They fail to realize that construction workers provide us with safe housing, growing communities, and up-to-code buildings. Construction workers have made our society as advanced as it is today.
However, construction sites present many opportunities for serious injury to occur. The fact that worksite employees and laborers use heavy machines and construct large buildings makes this job one of the most dangerous. Though safety and standard precautions help avoid injuries, some accidents are inevitable. This leads to hundreds of injuries and deaths yearly.
So in this blog post, we will go over the following:
- how common are constructions site injuries;
- the most common injuries in construction accidents;
- the most common construction accidents leading to injuries;
- the essential things to do after being injured on construction sites; and
- how a construction accident lawyer can help.
How Common Are Constructions Site Injuries?
Fatal and nonfatal injuries and accidents persist despite advances in construction safety technologies and training.
Per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one in five deaths among US workers is in the construction industry. This is an alarming statistic.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published a report that in 2020, 1008 worksite workers died on the job. In the same year, 174,100 cases of injuries were recorded in the construction sector. It also stated that 10.2 out of every 1000 worksite workers suffer a serious injury yearly. This makes it the third-highest rate of any agency. 34% of all construction deaths were due to fall accidents.
Most Common Construction Accident Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), the following are the most common construction injuries reported by workers:
Burns and Scarring
Burns are among the most frequent job site injuries. It is due to the possibility of flames and explosions on building sites. All of these pose potential risks of fire:
- exposed wiring,
- hazardous chemicals,
- leaky pipes, and other objects.
Head Injuries
Head injury is common on a construction site. It is due to falling items, equipment, or materials, especially for workers excavating or constructing from the ground up. These injuries may include head lacerations, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and others. Wearing protective equipment can save construction workers from these injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
These construction site injuries are often caused by falls from a ladder, scaffolding, or other elevated components of the building site.
Spinal cord injuries may result in:
- partial or complete paralysis,
- permanent disability, and
- brain damage.
Lacerations and Cuts
Cuts and lacerations to the skin are common among construction workers. It is due to poorly maintained equipment, unsecured machinery, exposed nails, and other on-site risks. If not treated, these scrapes and gashes might get infected. Construction workers should always use protective clothing and personal protective equipment.
Fractured, Broken, and Crushed Bones
Broken, fractured, or even crushed bones are common in construction sites. These are caused by heavy machinery used in this line of work. If not secured or controlled, bulldozers, cranes, and other heavy machinery might strike or crush a nearby worker, causing catastrophic harm.
Limb Loss
Heavy machinery, materials, and machines are present on construction sites. If one falls on or traps a worker, a leg, finger, or toe may be cut off. Furthermore, if limbs or fingers are crushed or seriously damaged, surgery may be required to save the worker’s life.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent construction site accidents. The loud sounds of heavy machinery and building equipment can cause hearing loss. Workers’ hearing may be harmed or lost if they do not use earplugs when operating jackhammers or other excessively noisy equipment. Suppose employees are struck by an item or impacted by falling debris on the side of the head or in the ear. In that case, they may suffer from partial or complete hearing loss.
Heat Stroke
Construction workers are forced to work all year, regardless of the weather. Unfortunately, this might constitute an extra on-the-job danger for employees in very hot places. Overexertion and sun exposure, particularly in the heat of summer, may lead workers to suffer heatstroke. Common heat stroke symptoms are nausea, lightheadedness, and, in some cases, fainting. A heat stroke, if left untreated, may cause brain, heart, or kidney damage, as well as death.
Vision Loss
One of the most common injuries on construction sites is eye injuries. Flying debris or chemical splashes commonly cause vision loss. Getting an eye injury can be more than just uncomfortable. It can seriously impact your career. That’s why it’s essential to always wear protective eyewear when working around high voltage lines and other dangerous equipment.
The following are the major causes of construction site eye injuries:
- Construction materials entering the eye (wooden shards, metal fragments, screws, or nails)
- Falling items may cause blunt force damage to the head or eyes
- Chemical burns or chemical exposure
Most Common Types Of Worksite Accidents Leading To Injuries
Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. And while many factors contribute to accidents, the most common ones are negligence or carelessness. This means that they could have been prevented if someone had been careful. Many accidents have led to deadly construction accidents in the workplace.
The following is a list of the most common construction accidents leading to injuries:
Slip and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls are among the most prevalent workplace accidents. It is also the leading cause of a workers’ compensation claim. This includes employees who:
- Slipped on ice, greasy, or damp floor
- Tripped because of uncovered sides or gaps, inadequate illumination, or clutter
- Fallen from ladders, rooftops, or skyscraper construction zones
These sorts of injuries on construction sites may be avoided by being aware of your surroundings. Construction workers must also follow OSHA’s fall protection rules.
Electrocution
The most typical forms of electrocution incidents in the workplace include:
- overhead power lines,
- exposed live wires, and
- contact with electrical currents from power equipment or machines.
It is the third-largest cause of construction injuries and deaths due to its severity. When employees are electrocuted, they may collapse. They will suffer severe burns inside and, in the worst instances, suffer brain damage that typically results in construction worker deaths.
The single most effective technique to avoid electrocution in the workplace is via safety training. Insulation, grounding, guarding, and electrical protection equipment are excellent preventative measures.
Hit by Falling Objects
Every day, construction workers face the possibility of being hurt or killed by falling debris. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers being hit by items one of the top four lethal causes of construction accident fatalities.
When working underneath cranes, scaffolds, ladders, or wherever overhead work is undertaken, construction workers are in danger of broken bones, head injuries, or death from falling materials.
Aside from tools and materials falling from high work platforms, construction workers are regularly wounded by dropped items while being transported or loaded.
Equipment-Related Accidents
Accidents may happen to anybody who works with heavy machinery. But, they are more likely in factories, agricultural equipment, and construction equipment. Machinery that is not guarded is a safety threat.
The outcomes are sometimes devastating when body parts get entangled in or impacted by exposed moving components or flying projectiles from machinery that lack protective shields. Among the horrific traumas caused by machines are:
- crushed hands and limbs,
- severed fingers,
- blindness, and
- death.
The best method to avoid mechanical dangers is to remember that every machine component, function, or process that might cause damage MUST be secured. And enough occupational safety training and protective clothing must always be supplied.
Fires and Explosions
Risk factors commonly trigger explosions and fires in the workplace. These include faulty gas connections, carelessly kept flammable goods, and exposed flames. The ensuing effects include respiratory system injury, varying degrees of burns, and possible deformity. Explosions and flames account for 3% of workplace injuries. And they have the highest fatality rate of all possible workplace hazards.
There are four categories of injuries that are connected with this sort of accident:
- Primary Blasts. These arise as a result of pressure on bodily tissues. It affects the ears, lungs, and gastrointestinal system.
- Secondary Blast. This happens when flying items collide with surrounding employees.
- Tertiary Blast. High-energy blasts can lift someone off the ground.
- Quaternary Blast. Everything else that occurs as a consequence of an explosion. It includes crush injuries, burns, and hazardous material inhalation.
To assist employees in preventing these sorts of accidents, OSHA advises following its hazard communication rules. Furthermore, material safety data sheets for all chemicals should be maintained on hand. Staff should be obliged to wear personal protective equipment at all times.
Building or Trench Collapses
Another prevalent construction accident occurs when a trench under construction collapses on the employees inside. A structure that is being destroyed or built might collapse abruptly and unexpectedly. It can kill or gravely wound individuals within. Even if the cause of the accident cannot be proven directly, a negligence legal principle known as “res ipsa loquitur” may apply. You may be reimbursed even if you cannot prove who was negligent or in what manner.
Collapsed Scaffolding
Scaffolding collapse is undoubtedly one of the worst incidents in every construction industry site. People surrounding and under the scaffolding might be crushed. And falls from extreme heights can result in serious injuries. Partially collapsed scaffolding and cases of floors giving way may potentially cause catastrophic injury.
Poor stability and carelessness are the most typical causes of scaffold collapses. If the scaffold is not assembled correctly, there is a reasonable probability that it may break in some way. Overloading the scaffold may potentially lead to floor failure or catastrophic structural collapse. This is why scaffolding must be evaluated for stability and safety while being installed.
Vehicle Accidents
Workers who spend their days moving automobiles are also at significant risk of being injured in an accident. For example, a worker on a construction site may be struck by a tractor. At the same time, a worker in a factory or warehouse could be struck by a forklift.
Businesses should emphasize safe driving practices focusing on defensive driving and a firm, enforced prohibition on distracted driving. However, a motor vehicle accident is caused by someone’s carelessness other than a coworker or employer in other situations. If this happens, you may be eligible to file a third-party claim. This sort of claim may result in compensation that exceeds what workers’ compensation benefits give.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
These injuries, also known as cumulative trauma injuries, occur when a person is constantly performing the same movement. This includes typing on a keyboard for long hours or restacking heavy boxes repeatedly. Such activities can lead to nerve damage or carpal tunnel syndrome. It is a painful condition that affects the hands and arms.
Things To Do After A Construction Site Accident
If you are injured while working on a construction site, you may take measures to protect both your health and your legal rights. Follow these steps:
- Check your injuries. Do not move if you suspect you have a back or head injury. Seek immediate medical attention. Obviously, this is of most immediate concern: take care of your medical needs first and foremost.
- Make arrangements to seek medical attention if you sustain non-life-threatening injuries. Call an ambulance or find someone who can transport you to the hospital.
- Take notice of who is around if you can move. Take photographs of your injuries and the source of your injuries if you can do so without endangering yourself or others. If you cannot take photos, ask your coworkers to photograph the scene, what caused the accident and your injuries.
- Notify your boss or supervisor. You need to provide clear facts about what happened. Don’t become too involved. If you can talk to an experienced attorney before you begin to discuss the accident, this is most advisable.
- Please contact an attorney. Your construction accident attorney should be notified as soon as the incident occurs. This safeguards you from predatory activity by insurance firms or company personnel.
Injured In A Construction Accident? A Construction Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Construction accident lawyers are ready to help you when you are injured on a construction site. These accidents can happen because of negligence by the employer, other construction workers, or even defective equipment. These cases are different from other personal injury cases because multiple parties may be responsible for your injuries and damages. Getting the aid of a construction accident attorney can help you navigate the complex laws surrounding your case.
A competent construction accident attorney will be able to help you and your family to:
- Determine whether to pursue a workers’ compensation or third-party responsibility claim (or both);
- Deal with the workers’ compensation insurance if your expenses aren’t being paid, if there’s a disagreement about medical coverage, or if the insurer attempts to push you back to work too soon;
- Collect evidence to prove your application for compensation. Maintain the progress of your construction accident claim;
- Appeal a denied workers’ compensation claim;
- Negotiate a solution if there is a benefits issue; and
- File a third-party lawsuit or arrange a settlement with a responsible third party.
Ultimately, finding the right accident lawyer can be tricky because there are so many facets to consider. It’s important to look at each case as an individual entity. And you should work with a lawyer who understands your case’s complexities. That’s why our knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorneys are available to answer your questions anytime. You can reach us at (646) 217-0749. With us, it’s personal!