Accidents on job sites can cause employees to suffer severe injuries. Due to the many hazards around construction sites, accidents are common. However, workers are at a higher risk of injury when the companies they work for fail to provide their workers with ongoing safety training in compliance with safety standards and industry best practices. Suffering a debilitating injury while working on a construction site can leave an employee with mounting medical bills and an inability to work while recovering. Fortunately for many injured workers, there may be options for recovering these losses, such as filing a workers’ compensation claim or even suing for damages if a third party’s negligence caused the accident. Victims of construction accidents may wish to consider contacting a seasoned Michigan workers’ compensation lawyer at Bruce L. Weider, PC, by calling (734) 485-0535 to schedule a consultation.
Causes of Construction Accidents
Construction workers regularly perform their job duties in hazardous conditions. Unfortunately, accidents can leave them with injuries that prevent them from working while they recuperate. For assistance with medical bills and related expenses after sustaining injuries in an on-the-job accident, many workers apply for and collect workers’ compensation benefits. Some of the most common types of injuries construction workers experience as a result of job site accidents include:
● Broken or fractured bones
● Permanent scarring and disfigurement from fires and explosions
● Head, skull, and traumatic brain injuries
● Spinal cord trauma leading to permanent paralysis
● Overexertion and repetitive movement injuries
● Facial injuries, such as loss of eyesight or dental damage
● Crush injuries from using or working around heavy machinery
● Deep cuts and lacerations
Job sites in the construction industry are inherently hazardous, and workers are always at risk of harm. Therefore, companies must follow state and federal safety standards, including by ensuring that their employees receive adequate training to prevent avoidable accidents. If construction accidents do occur, a workers’ compensation attorney from Bruce L. Weider, PC, may be able to review the case and help determine the most effective plan for recovering compensation.
What Are the 4 Main Causes of Accidents in Construction?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the four most significant causes of construction site accidents include falls, struck-by accidents, caught-between accidents, and electrocution. OSHA regulates the construction industry to prevent avoidable accidents. When companies fail to comply with the safety rules and regulations, they can face steep fines and even lose their business license for a specified period.
Falls
The leading cause of construction site accidents is falls. Whether falling from heights or tripping and falling, injured workers can suffer severe life-threatening or fatal injuries. They may fall from ladders, roofs, scaffolding, and more. To prevent injuries from accidental falls, construction companies must take steps to follow OSHA safety requirements, such as offering regular training sessions and providing equipment to make sure their employees also take the proper safety precautions.
Struck-By Accidents
Struck-by accident injuries occur when an object, such as a piece of equipment, suddenly and forcefully impacts a construction worker. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that falling or swinging objects, which can include tools or other materials, place construction workers at an inherent risk of harm while they carry out their daily job duties. The height and shape of the object play a significant role in the damage the object may cause, and accidents can leave workers with permanent disabilities. In the worst cases, these construction accidents may even cause death.
Caught-Between Accidents
Caught-between accidents are also frequent on construction sites. They happen when a worker is stuck, crushed, or pinched between two or more items, which often include heavy machinery. Caught-between accidents are often severe and can leave workers with crush injuries, internal bleeding, traumatic amputations, and more. Some examples of the causes of injuries in these accidents include:
● Being stuck or crushed during an excavation wall collapse
● Getting a finger, thumb, or limb caught in a saw, causing a traumatic amputation
● Being stuck and pinned between two pieces of heavy machinery
● Getting crushed beneath a heavy load that has fallen or been dropped
● Getting trapped by heavy machinery that has tipped over
● Being trapped or crushed by a collapse of rubble during demolition work
● Being pinned and crushed between a wall and a heavy piece of machinery
Electrocutions
Construction workers are also at substantial risk of suffering severe or fatal injuries caused by electrocution. Some examples of how Michigan construction workers may sustain bodily harm from electric shock include the following:
● Failing to use extension cords properly
● Using defective parts and equipment
● Lacking safety equipment and ground-fault protection
● Working with power lines without the proper gear
● Working with faulty wiring
● Having inadequate training in potential electrical hazards on the job site
● Working in conditions, such as rain or standing water, that have a high risk of electrical shock injuries
What Type of Accident Kills the Most Construction Workers?
The most common cause of fatal injuries sustained by construction workers is falling, which accounts for a substantial number of deaths in the industry yearly. These accidents occur when workers fall from heights or fall on the ground level by slipping or tripping. A fatal falling accident on the job can happen for many reasons, including:
● Falling from ladders or scaffolding
● Falling in slippery conditions from spills or after a rain
● Tripping over power cords or other tools and equipment
Speak With an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
People can be victims of accidents while carrying out their daily duties in any industry. However, the construction industry generally presents more hazards, putting employees at a higher risk of suffering significant injuries. Because construction workers use or work around heavy machinery and electricity, sometimes at heights that require additional safety measures, they are at higher risk of being injured in construction accidents. Many injured workers are eligible to collect workers’ compensation benefits. If you or a loved one was injured at work on a construction site, consider contacting an experienced Michigan workers’ compensation lawyer at Bruce L. Weider, PC, by calling (734) 485-0535 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.
