Construction Site Dangers: Injuries And Illnesses

by Shelby Warden
(New York)

It can literally be said that construction workers built America. They are fundamental in keeping the country growing and moving forward. Unfortunately, they have one of the most dangerous jobs in existence. In only one day, for instance, ten men died during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.

There are numerous dangers related to this type of work, but it is still the responsibility of the employer to provide the safest working conditions possible. If they don’t, workers could be seriously injured and the company will likely have to provide compensation.

Dangers of Construction Work

There are several inherent dangers to working on construction sites. The number one cause of injury in the industry is falling from substantial heights. This obviously is what killed the workers on the Golden Gate Bridge construction site. One other major cause of injury that many people wouldn’t even guess is motor vehicle crashes.

These theoretically can happen on building construction sites, but these incidents are a serious cause of injury due to many construction workers working to fix, build and maintain highways.

There are several other risks involved with construction work as well. Some of the more serious dangers include electrocution, heavy machinery, excavation accidents and being struck by falling objects. Even hard hats can’t protect workers from injury if an excessively heavy object falls on them.

A construction worker’s health can also be seriously affected by working around certain solvents and asbestos. These toxins can cause dangerous health related consequences in workers who are exposed to them.

Safety

No one would deny that construction workers knowingly take on a certain amount of risk when they put on their hardhats and step onto a construction site, but this doesn’t mean that they can be put into undue danger. Construction worker employers must follow specific safety protocols to prevent their workers from being physically injured.

Most safety protocols are made by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). One such protocol requires that fall protection must be provided in several areas that have a height risk associated with them.

This protection can include safety nets, guardrails, warning line systems and personal fall arrest systems. At least some form of these systems must be used to protect the workers on construction sites that involve substantial heights.

There are obviously several other safety measures that employers must provide as well. These measures can include safety glass on heavy machinery, reflectors if those machines will be used at night and offering safety training to every worker.

There are some instances, however, where all of the safety measures in the world may not help. Solvents and asbestos exposure can slowly cause serious respiratory problems that could eventually kill a worker.

When Safety Fails

Any injury sustained on a construction site can be very serious, and the illnesses that can come from working in these areas can be even more detrimental. If an employer was neglectful in providing a safe area to work in then an injured worker will likely get compensation for their injury and pain and suffering.

According to construction injury attorney David Perecman, a worker who gets sick or dies due to asbestos exposure can actually be compensated from several sources. The sellers, installers and manufacturers of asbestos containing products can all be sued for damages.

These types of claims often meet up against large insurance companies with high powered lawyers. Any construction worker who is injured or becomes ill due to their career should be compensated for what they’ve gone through, but these insurance companies will try their best to avoid paying any compensation. This makes it imperative for an injured or ill construction worker to speak with an attorney quickly.

Insurance companies love when they can get a statement out of a worker without their lawyer present; they can often twist the words of these statement to make it appear as if the worker was at fault.

Construction site injuries are often very serious and usually require some form of medical attention. Unfortunately, these injuries or illnesses often leave a construction worker unable to perform their jobs, so they lose their income on top of facing serious medical bills.

As mentioned earlier, the entire country was built on the backs of construction workers, so when they are injured on a job, it is important that they find a lawyer that will get them the recompense that they deserve.

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Shelby Warden is a legal researcher and contributing writer for the New York based construction injury attorney David Perecman. The experienced construction injury lawyers at the Perecman Law Firm are dedicated to the success of their clients.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a construction accident, contact them to schedule a free consultation.