The Most Common Construction Site Injuries

The Most Common Construction Site Injuries The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) [^1] enforces regulations that aim to keep workplaces safe for employees. When you go to work each day, you should be able to trust that your work environment is safe and that you will not suffer harm. Some jobs are more dangerous than others, however, and this means that certain types of workers sustain injuries on the job on a regular basis. Sometimes work-related injuries can be minor, though sometimes they may be catastrophic or even fatal. In fact, OSHA reports [^2] that 4,405 employees were killed at work in 2013, which means that approximately 12 workers died each day. Some of the most dangerous jobs are in the construction industry. According to OSHA, an estimated 20 percent of all workplace fatalities involved construction workers. Additional data shows that about four out of every 100 workers in the construction industry suffers a non-fatal injury on an annual basis. At times, these injuries occur simply due to accidents. However, there are instances in which preventable injuries are suffered due to dangerous condition on the premises of the job site. In some cases, injured workers have the ability to recover from the responsible party for the losses they incurred due to their injuries. For this reason, injured individuals should always discuss a potential case with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Construction's “Top Ten” Construction workers face daily obstacles and dangerous environments involving unstable ground and structures, heights, heavy machinery, building materials, and more. Due to these and other hazards, the ten most common construction accidents include the following:

• Falls – Workers often must work on ladders, scaffolding, on roofs, in high windows, or other significant heights. The risk of falling is high and falls are the most common cause of construction worker fatalities.
• Being struck by an object – Because individuals work at various height levels on a construction site, it is not uncommon for building materials, tools, or other heavy objects to fall and hit workers standing below.
• Caught between materials – Construction sites often have large pieces of building materials swinging from cranes or other large machines, as well as large moving vehicles. In certain accidents, construction workers can become trapped between a structure and another heavy object, which can cause serious injury or death.
• Electrocutions – Many sites have electrical systems in various states of progress and this includes electrical systems that are as of yet unfinished. Exposed wiring, wires that are not grounded, and similar circumstances can cause harmful electrocutions.
• Motor vehicle accidents – Many construction sites exist to repair highways or roads. In such cases, there is often traffic passing by the site while workers are present and it is common for a worker to be struck by a passing vehicle.
• Explosions and fires – Fires and explosions can occur on construction sites due to many factors, including leaking gas, unfinished electrical systems, unfinished pipes, and more. Construction workers can suffer severe burns and other injuries in the case of a fire-related accident.
• Accidents involving machinery – As previously mentioned, construction workers operate a lot of heavy machinery and tools on a regular basis. Jackhammers, bulldozers, nail guns, and other machines can cause serious injuries in the event of an accident.
• Ground collapses – The ground of a construction site is often unstable due to digging and lack of foundation. Large holes or trenches can collapse as a worker is inside of them and can cause them to be buried, suffer a lack of oxygen, or even suffocate.
• Slip and fall accidents – Construction workers can slip, trip, or fall for various reasons, including debris on the ground, uneven or unsecured flooring materials, holes, and other hazards.
• Overexertion – Because construction sites are often outdoors, workers are exposed to the elements including heat and humidity. Such weather conditions combined with long hours and heavy labor can cause workers to suffer heat stroke or other exertion-related injuries. 

If you are a construction worker who has suffered an injury on the job in or around Clearwater, Florida, you should contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your options for recovery. Call the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for a free consultation at 727-451-6900 today. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33756 727-451-6900 References: ^[1] https://www.osha.gov/ ^{[2]  Commonly Used Statistics}