A quick glance of any compilation of the world’s most dangerous jobs will show that construction jobs make the cut every time. Construction accidents occur across the country in the hundreds of thousands each year—OSHA reports that nail guns alone account for around 37,000 visits to the ER on an annual basis.
From machinery mishaps to falling debris, electrocutions, and high-rise falls, there are a plethora of ways that someone can become injured on a construction job site. If you are among those who have been injured in construction, our Doylestown Construction Accident Attorney can help.
While most construction crews are staunch stewards of safety procedures, provide on-site training, ensure proper job site supervision, and follow OSHA requirements to the letter, construction accidents still happen, and they happen frequently.
Construction jobs seem to have a perfect recipe for disaster: workers work outdoors, sometimes in extreme weather, using potentially deadly machinery at great heights and around caustic and flammable chemicals. Some construction practices are more dangerous than others, including:
- Power tool usage. Tools that cut, grind, weld and demolish can turn treacherous in a heartbeat if the right conditions exist. To make matters worse, when employees start to become overly familiar with certain tools, they may become lax in following safety protocols, posing a risk of danger to themselves and others on the job.
- Heavy equipment usage. Large pieces of machinery can become a source of horrific workplace accidents. Equipment operators who are not sufficiently trained or site planners that are not fully aware of the site’s surroundings often find themselves injured by heavy equipment on the job. What’s more, machinery that is not properly maintained and inspected regularly poses a safety risk when malfunctions occur.
- Demolition. Sometimes construction crews must tear things down to build new structures. Electrocution, burns and flying debris are all perils that are caused by demolition practices gone wrong.
- Working on high-rise projects. Up to 40 percent of all deaths in construction are related to falls. The taller the building, the riskier it is for the construction worker. Installing concrete and working with cranes at great heights often leads to deadly falls or falls that cause permanent disabilities.
- Roofing.Of all construction jobs, none is deadlier than roofing. Roofers have the highest rates of fatality among all construction worker deaths in the U.S., with 47.4 reported for every 100,000 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revised Census of Occupational Injuries.
Worker’s Comp
Most construction workers are covered by worker’s compensation insurance. This type of insurance can provide a partial wage replacement and cover medical costs for injured workers. In addition, it may provide a lump sum payout for your injuries.
For workers not covered by worker’s compensation, it may be possible to hold your employer or company (and their insurer) liable for your injuries. Contact our Doylestown Construction Accident Attorney as soon as possible following your injury to weigh your legal options during a Free, No-Obligation Case Review and consultation.