Construction Site Injuries

Despite the efforts of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to foster and enforce safety standards around Hallandale construction sites, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that lethal work injuries are quite common.

Construction Site Injury Statistics

Being a construction worker comes with a number of hazards, including extreme heights, noise, dust, and power tools. In 2009, construction workers incurred the most fatal injuries out of all private sectors. The good news is that this number has been declining by about 17% for the past couple of years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has come up with the following statistics regarding fatal construction site accident injuries in 2009:

• Full-time construction workers had, on average, a fatal occupational injury rate of 7 per 100,000
• Roofers had 34.7 fatal work injuries per 100,000
• Structural iron and steel workers had a rate of 30.3 per 100,000 fatal injuries
• Laborers’ rate was sitting at 18.3 per 100,000
• There was a total of 816 fatal construction site injuries
• Falls accounted for about 34% of fatal construction injuries

This just goes to show the dangers of construction site injuries and how severe they can get with unregulated safety measures.

Aside from fatal accidents, other types of construction site injuries were numbered at about 4.3 per 100 full-time workers. Close to 100,000 construction workers experienced non-fatal injuries or illnesses requiring day(s) away from work.

Falls accounted for 22% of the above, with construction laborers experiencing the 7th highest rate of construction site injuries which requiring day(s) away from work (382 per 10,000 full-time workers).

Most Common Causes of Construction Site Injuries

Construction site injuries can be a result of many accidents including:

• Falls from a roof or other elevated surfaces
• Falling debris
• Electrocutions or explosions
• Vehicular – crane or forklift
• Welding accidents

Construction site injuries can also be caused by the failure of a construction site to provide the necessary safety equipment. Other injuries may occur due to machinery accidents, equipment failure or industrial gases.

Construction injuries occur when the work area is not safe for the workers, there is a communication gap (especially on safety precautions) inevitable mistakes committed by a worker or malfunctioning equipment used on the construction site.

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Construction Site Safety

Because of the nature of construction sites, accidents in these areas happen way too often.

Construction site injuries can be very severe, or even fatal.

However, if the appropriate safety measures are taken, most of them can be prevented:

• Always be aware of the situation and risks surrounding you – be on the watch-out for falling debris, live electrical wiring, heights, and your colleagues’ positions.
• Always keep it clean and neat – make sure you put up tools and materials when you are done using them, ensuring yours and your colleagues’ safety. Also, keep all =the walkways clean, and remove debris to prevent dangerous falls and slips.
• Participate in every training provided by your employer. Don’t perform operations you are not qualified to do, and always make sure you know what you are doing.
• Always report, as quickly as possible, any dangerous conditions, such as hazards, non-friendly environments or anything for that matter. Always let your employer know about these things before the worst happens. If necessary, go to your union representative and file a complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Maintain your tools – before or after using a piece of equipment or machinery, make sure it is in the proper condition. Create a regular inspection schedule to always be sure that the tools you use are safe.
• Wear safety gear – Never, under any circumstances, remove your safety equipment. Doesn’t matter if it’s a hard hat, goggles, gloves, or protective suit, each one of these could possibly make the difference between life and death in an unexpected construction site accident.
• Follow all of the guidelines set in place by OSHA or your manager – All of these are designed for construction site safety.

In 2010, 774 construction workers lost their lives in construction site accidents, so taking the necessary safety measures is mandatory if this number is to keep going down.

Types of Construction Site Injuries

If there is no proper construction site safety, the results can be catastrophic. There are a number of severe injuries that cause pain and suffering to the victim. Some include:

• Broken bones or fractures
• Burns from fires, explosions, or electrocutions
• Cuts or lacerations from exposed nails, machinery or tools
• Shoulder, knee, or ankle injuries such as sprains or overuse damage
• Spinal cord injuries from falls
• PTSD from a traumatic experience at the workplace
• Toxic exposure to chemicals, for example, from welding jobs
• Head or traumatic brain injuries most often resulting from falls, slips, or having objects accidentally dropped on a construction worker

And these are not the worst ones.

In the worst case scenario, a worker’s injuries might be fatal. If you or a loved one has suffered from construction site injuries, you might be eligible for compensation of the damages. The success of your case will strongly depend on the construction injury lawyer you choose. So, choose carefully.

Recovering from Construction Site Injuries

Workers who are victims of construction site injuries can now effectively sue the company for strict liability as well as negligence.

The goal is to protect workers from the results of workplace accidents, primarily lost wages. If the injury resulted in a worker’s wrongful death, the family is given the right to pursue legal action. Company owners, as well as the project contractors, are obligated by Florida law to make the construction site safe for workers.

Our law office in Hallandale Beach, FL has highly-trained construction accident lawyers who are equipped with the knowledge and experience to handle construction site injury cases across South Florida. We will fight to recover the maximum monetary reward possible, from the company and other liable persons.

If you have suffered from a construction accident, you can contact us for a free consultation regarding your case and the actions you can take in order to receive the reimbursement you deserve.

Get your questions answered - call us for your FREE consultation at 800-835-5762 & 954-456-2488