As is the case with most occupations, working in construction comes with its set of risks. Every day, thousands of workers go to their jobs and return home after a long day’s work without incident. Unfortunately for some, their trips end early because they’ve become victims of accidents that could have been prevented. If you’re one of these workers, and you have been searching through Long Island Construction Accident Lawyers, we ask that you consider the law firm of Winkler Kurtz, LLP.
Falls are among the most common safety issues that can be found in the construction industry. Workers are exposed to dozens of different fall hazards, including falling from ladders or other objects while on their way up or down, slipping and falling due to wet floors, dropping items while working off scaffolding, etc.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls accounted for 34 percent of all worker deaths in construction between 2011 and 2013. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that the number one cause of unintentional injury-related death during this time was transportation accidents, with 221 fatalities per day. Falls were listed second on the list, with 102 deaths per day.
This means that falls are responsible for twice as many fatalities as transportation-related accidents every year. This will come as no surprise to those who live and work in areas with high numbers of fatal falls, such as construction sites and the surrounding area and towers and elevators (for people living or working on higher floors).
The leading causes of falls include:
- Failures to ensure the safety and protection of workers by enforcing regulations related to protective equipment and clothing. There must be a strict policy that requires workers to wear safe footwear and clothes at all times, instead of allowing them to wear their own regular clothes or sneakers after they arrive at work.
- Laborers failing to comply with safety protocols or taking shortcuts when it comes to their work.
- Lack of guidance, proper training and supervision for workers on the site.
- Failure of employers to provide protective equipment that offers good support and balance.
- Making use of defective or improperly maintained scaffolding equipment, ladders or stairs. Workers often stand on scaffolding or work from their ladders, which can lead to bad falls.
- Poor planning of job sites. Some construction companies make the mistake of not putting up guardrails at elevated areas, assuming that workers won’t be able to fall over them.
Machine Hazards – Although machine-related accidents are relatively uncommon when it comes to construction sites, it is still a good idea to follow strict protocols when dealing with them. A single moment of carelessness on the part of the workers can lead to an accident that could end up injuring several people or even kill someone.
A machine-related incident may cause:
- Lacerations and amputations resulting from improper use and maintenance of construction equipment such as earth movers or bulldozers.
- Severing limbs, collapsing cranes and other heavy machinery accidents that could crush workers to death under their weight.
- Electrocution resulting from faulty wiring and other power supply issues in the building site.
- Slips and Trips/Falls – These hazards typically happen in construction sites when there is a lack of proper lighting and flooring.
- Construction workers often make use of their equipment in poorly lit areas, meaning they can’t properly judge the distances between them and objects around them. This increases the risk for falls and trips that could potentially cause major injuries such as broken bones or even death.
- Burns/Electrocution – These accidents can happen when workers make use of dangerous power tools and heavy machinery.
- Construction workers operating such machines must be very careful and vigilant, as one momentary misstep could lead to severe injury or even death.
- Exposure to Toxic Substances/Chemicals – Workers may come into contact with dangerous chemicals on a regular basis.
- Construction sites are full of hazardous substances such as oil, paint and other chemicals that could release toxic fumes when they come in contact with the workers’ skin or clothes.
The most common result is a worker developing dermatitis from these chemical exposures, resulting in various rashes on the arms, hands and neck. These conditions might be mild at first, but they could get worse if not treated.
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