Construction workers often work in a poor environment which leads to accidents. Extreme temperatures, poor air quality, and excessive noise result in stress. So does the work pressure they have to endure from managers.
If you’ve suffered an injury, you’re probably facing financial troubles. All those medical treatments don’t come for free. Changing your lifestyle also isn’t easy, especially when that’s not something you want. Your family is also taking a hit.
The good news is that you can talk to a lawyer experienced in construction accidents. You can contact Spar & Bernstein if you’re from NYC. They’ll be able to tell you what you can do following the accident.
If that’s not the case, we’re happy for you. However, you still need to take all precautionary measures. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of the most frequent construction accidents.
OSHA’s “Fatal Four”
After World War II, work safety worsened in all areas of the economy, leading to rising injury rates. As a result, Congress decided to establish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ever since its establishment in 1970, OSHA has worked on reducing the number of work injuries.
This organization has established standards that employers must follow. As a result, the number of construction accidents has reduced over the years.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean they don’t happen anymore. Over 40% of all fatal occupational injuries in 2020 occurred on construction sites. To be exact, 976 people died in a construction accident.
OSHA has created a list of the most common construction accidents. They named them the “Fatal Four”. There’s also a list of all precautionary measures that both employees and employers must take.
In the next sections, we’ll go over the most common accident scenarios. We’ll also include the injuries they cause and what you can do to protect yourself. Of course, you should primarily rely on OSHA’s standards.
Falling
Falls, slips, and trips account for 37.9% of all fatalities, which makes them the biggest killers. That’s because construction workers often do their jobs from high places. They climb on rooftops, go into chimneys, and use ladders and scaffolding.
The leading causes of fall-related injuries include:
- Unprotected sides, wall openings, and floor holes;
- Ladders misuse;
- Improper scaffold construction;
- Protruding steel reinforcing bars.
Results can be devastating. Workers may suffer brain or spinal cord injury, neck and face trauma, and fractures. Sometimes, they even end up permanently paralyzed.
There are some safety measures you can implement to protect yourself:
- Place guardrails next to all unguarded edges and cover all holes as soon as you notice them.
- Position ladders in a way that side rails extend at least three feet above the landing. Make sure their position is secured and don’t apply too much weight.
- Set up scaffolds following the manufacturer’s instructions and use a guardrail system.
- Use rebar caps or wooden troughs on rebars, or at least bend them.
Electrocution
During the construction, workers can run into exposed wires and unfinished electrical systems. They’re not always aware of that, which can lead to electrocution.
Here are some common scenarios:
- Using tools and equipment that can contact overhead and buried power lines;
- A ground-fault accident caused by a lack of ground-fault protection;
- Path to the ground is missing or discontinued;
- Equipment or extension and flexible cords are used improperly.
Workers that come in contact with power lines can suffer severe burns, cardiac arrest, and nerve damage. Not to mention that they could also die.
So, here’s what you should do:
- Pay attention to your surroundings. If you’re unsure if there are power lines near, assume that they are.
- Use GFCIs according to the standards and test them to make sure they’re working properly. Use double-insulated tools and equipment.
- Check if the path to the ground is continuous and inspect all electrical equipment before using it.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to a T when using equipment and machines. Don’t use cords, connection devices, and fittings that don’t have strain relief.
Trenches and Excavations
Workers that perform trenching and excavation work are in danger of getting injured due to cave-ins. Employers should provide employees with protection methods, such as sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding.
These injuries often result in death. Workers that survive suffer crush injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, or fractures.
To prevent these from happening, you should:
- Ensure that there’s a safe way to enter and exit a trench or excavation.
- Make sure there’s cave-in protection. If not, don’t enter it.
- See if there’s any standing water and test for atmospheric hazards to make sure you don’t suffocate, inhale toxic materials, or drown.
- Keep materials away from the edge of the trench to stop cave-ins from happening.
Being struck by an object
Struck-by accidents are also common types of accidents that occur in construction. Injuries that occur happen because of forcible contact between the injured person and an object or equipment.
For instance, a worker may end up pinned between construction vehicles and walls, struck by swinging backhoes, and crushed beneath overturned vehicles. Falling and flying objects can also be dangerous, especially if those objects are heavy.
Some struck-by accidents may only cause a minor injury. Others can result in death and serious injuries, depending on the heaviness of the object and force of impact.
That’s why it is critical that you:
- Wear proper PPE, such as safety glasses, goggles, and face shields.
- Attend required training for equipment and vehicles.
- Avoid working underneath loads that are being moved.
As you can tell, construction accidents typically occur because of the lack of protective measures and as a result of unnecessary distractions. The good news is that you can do a lot on your own, even if your employer isn’t as diligent as you may be.
And if you already got injured, we advise you to contact a lawyer and focus on your recovery.
