Were You Injured On a Construction Site?
The construction industry is known for being one of the most dangerous occupations with some of the highest worker injury rates in the nation. The hazards associated with construction work are well-known by general contractors, sub-contractors, and workers alike but often hard to control in an environment where work conditions change constantly.
Construction workers continuously work with:
- Heavy equipment
- Power tools
- Machines
- Scaffolds
- Ladders
- Heavy saws
- Cranes
Common Causes of Construction Accidents
These types of equipment can pose inherent dangers when not used, serviced or maintained properly. There are a number of factors that cause construction accidents, some of which include work methods, failure to follow proper safety protocol, inadequate safety training, co-worker negligence and more.
Injuries and deaths are not uncommon in the construction industry and frequently involve:
- Falls from heights
- Electrocutions
- Explosions
- Power tool injuries
- Asphyxiation (trench collapse)
- Exposure to asbestos and other toxic chemicals
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry with an average of 362 fatalities occurring on an annually from 1995 to 1999. Unprotected sides, wall openings, floor holes, improper scaffold construction, unguarded protruding steel re-bars, and the misuse of portable ladders cause the majority of fall-related injuries in the construction industry.
Another cause for concern is electrocution, which is caused by coming into contact with power lines, the lack of ground-fault protection, the path to ground missing or discontinuous, equipment not used in the prescribed method, and improper use of extension cords.
Other hazards include being struck by an object; these commonly involve trucks and cranes, or asphyxiation caused by trench collapse and cave-ins. There are a variety of hazards involved in trenching and excavation, some of which involve not using a protective system, lack of inspection of the trench and protective system, unsafe spoil-pile placement, and unsafe access.
Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law Is Here for You
A construction site is often chaotic; any one or more entities may be legally liable when a construction worker is injured or killed. These may include the site owner, contractors, sub-contractors, or manufacturers of machinery or equipment. While employees may be entitled to compensation under their employers' workers' compensation insurance, some workers are entitled to compensation in a third party claim instead of, or in addition to workers' compensation.
To find out what your legal options are, contact our New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law.