What are Construction Site Injuries?
Construction work is one of the most dangerous industries, which presents a daily risk for construction injuries. With this industry being very physical, workers are often required to use powerful machinery, climb to great heights or work along the road where traffic accidents can take place.
Falls, trench collapse, scaffold collapse, electrocutions, and a lack of personal protective equipment present potentially hazardous situations for construction workers. As a result, accidents are a common event leading to injuries such as broken bones, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and many more.
Causes of Construction Site Injuries on Sites
Falls
The most common construction site injuries are caused by falls. A worker can fall from a building, scaffolding, or piece of machinery or into a ditch on a construction site.
Trench Collapse
When a trench collapses this can cause serious injury as a worker’s air supply can be cut off and the individual can even become buried alive. This scenario can also lead the construction worker to suffer crushing injuries.
Collapsed Scaffolding
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) states strict rules to be adhered to to ensure the safety and stability of scaffolding. Unfortunately even with these rules in place construction worker injuries can still occur causing a worker to plunge to death or to fall and sustain a serious injury.
Electrical Shock
The construction industry involves working with generators, power tools, machinery, and electrical wiring. All of these elements put construction workers at risk of suffering electrical burns.
Failure to use Protective Gear
Protective gear such as hard hats, safety glasses, and other personal protective equipment should always be worn by construction workers on a construction site to prevent injury. Failure to do so can lead to serious head injuries.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Certain aspects of construction work can involve repetitive motion which can cause muscles and soft tissues to become worn and damaged. As a result, this leads to limited mobility and pain in the affected area.
Most Common Construction Injuries
Head Injuries or Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head injuries are one of the most common construction injuries that are a direct result of a fall or as a result of heavy objects being dropped on the construction worker. This type of injury can have lifelong effects and may require multiple surgeries. It can also include a lengthy rehabilitation period depending on the nature and extent of the injury.
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can cause severe deformities which may require cosmetic surgery. Unfortunately, these injuries may not even be repaired with this surgery. A construction worker that has suffered burn injuries will often require expensive and painful skin graft procedures. Important to note is that these types of expenses are often not covered by health insurance policies, meaning they will create a financial burden on the victim.
Spinal Cord Damage
Damage to the spinal cord may result from neck or back injuries from work and can leave workers with chronic pain or even cause partial or complete paralysis. Construction site injuries such as spinal injuries can be severe, causing workers to be disabled for life.
This can have a devastating effect on the individual as it directly affects their ability to return to work or earn an income.
Broken Bones
Certain types of bone fractures can cause workers to live with deformities or suffer from chronic pain. Victims of broken bone injuries may need a long period of rehabilitation and ongoing treatment to recover strength and mobility in the affected area.
Amputations
Amputation of a finger, toe, or limb can occur when a worker is using machinery or when equipment malfunctions. Construction worker injuries such as these can also threaten a worker’s job and future career.
Ear and Eye Injuries
Construction sites present a noisy environment which could cause hearing damage if the worker is not provided with the correct protection for their ears. Eye injuries are also a threat and can result from being punctured by sharp objects such as nails fired by a malfunctioning nail gun.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Though the majority of construction site injuries are physical, there is a psychological aspect that needs to be taken into consideration as well. Workers who are severely injured or experience a traumatic event may suffer long-term effects of PTSD.
What Should One Do When Injured on a Construction Site
If one suffers from a construction site injury, the following points should be followed to make sure that one has a better chance of receiving compensation while prioritizing their health.
- One firstly needs to assess their injuries. If, for example, a worker believes that they have a back or head injury, it is recommended that one should not move and seek emergency medical care urgently.
- If one suffers non-life-threatening injuries, one should still seek medical care. This can be done by calling an ambulance or having someone take the individual to hospital.
- If one can move they should, if possible do without hurting oneself or others, take photos of the injuries and the cause of these injuries.
- One should alert their manager or supervisor and give clear details about what happened.
- Very importantly, one should contact a construction injury lawyer to protect oneself from unfair action from insurance companies or corporate representatives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Construction Injuries
What are Construction Injury Risks?
Construction injury risks can arise from heavy machinery and power tools that get used incorrectly. Using faulty tools or equipment can also increase the risk of accidents.
How common are Injuries in Construction?
Construction work is one of the most dangerous industries with heavy machinery and constructing large buildings that can easily lead to accidents and injuries. Although safety precautions are implemented to help prevent injuries, accidents still occur daily leading to hundreds of injuries and deaths per year.
Out of all the injuries that could occur, falls are the most common construction site injury, making up around 35% of all construction accidents.
Have Your Suffered Construction Injuries? Call Us Today!
Construction work is an essential service that comes with a great risk of potential construction injuries daily. If you or someone you know has suffered from an injury as such, call us today at Coluccio Law or contact us online.
We are here to assist you with a team of professional and well-experienced personal injury attorneys who are ready to get you the compensation you deserve.
Related Article: How to keep Workers Safe in Construction Sites
