There are risks of injury in every job, with construction work among the most dangerous. According to the most recent data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 1,075 deaths were attributed to construction site accidents.
That represents 20% of all occupational deaths in the country.
Even with all the training and inspections, construction site accidents remain a persistent risk. When these accidents happen, construction workers should be able to apply for workers’ compensation insurance to cover medical expenses and a portion of their wages.
However, workers’ compensation is not guaranteed. It still has to go through an approval process.
There could also be a situation in which compensation is due to the injured worker because of injuries caused by a third party or a negligent site owner who created an unsafe environment. Whether you are filing a workers’ compensation claim or seeking to hold additional parties accountable, an experienced Cherry Hill construction accident lawyer can help with the process.
Any claim begins with understanding what caused the accident. The following guide breaks down the most common dangers on a construction site.
The Fatal Four: Leading Causes of Construction Injuries
There are many inherent risks associated with construction work. Among the leading causes of construction injuries are often referred to as “The Fatal Four.”
Here’s what the Fatal Four are all about:
Falls
Falls account 36.5% of all occupational deaths, according to OSHA data. That makes falls one of the most common causes of death in the construction industry. The severity of fall injuries depends on the height of the fall. These are the risks:
- Lower heights from less than 10 feet will often result in fractured ankles, wrists, or hips, and possibly traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
- Moderate heights from between 10–20 feet have a high risk of severe TBI, along with complex fractures and internal organ damage.
- Heights of 20 feet or higher often result in catastrophic injuries or death. That includes severing of the spinal cord and major internal hemorrhaging.
Electrical Hazards
Electrocutions contributed to 8.5% of all construction site fatalities. They most often occur when in-progress electrical work leaves exposed wiring. Electrical injuries are extremely complex to treat as they disrupt heart rhythm, create intense skin burns, and can cause severe injury to major organs.
Struck-By
There are a lot of moving parts on every construction site. Sometimes those “parts” literally fall from scaffolding, accounting for 8.4% of construction fatalities. Even though workers are obligated to wear hard hats, an object falling from high heights can cause a fatal head injury.
The four common types of struck-by hazards are:
- Falling objects
- Flying objects
- Swinging objects
- Rolling objects
Caught-In/Between
As the name implies, a caught-in/between accident occurs when a worker is struck between two objects, such as when two moving mechanical devices or a trench collapses.
Heavy Machinery and Equipment Malfunctions
Although the Fatal Four are the most common causes of construction site injuries, they’re not the only way a worker can be hurt. On a construction site with heavy machinery, malfunctions can occur involving hydraulic failures, electrical issues, and brake failures.
These often occur due to poor maintenance, operator error, or high-pressure working conditions.
Heavy machinery can be one of the following:
- Excavators
- Bulldozers
- Backhoe Loaders
- Skid Steer Loaders
- Scrapers
- Cranes
- Telehandlers
- Forklifts
- Motor Graders
- Rollers/Compactors
- Asphalt Pavers
- Dump Trucks
- Concrete Mixer Trucks
- Concrete Pumps
- Boom Lifts
- Scissor Lifts
- Trenchers
If a worker operating this equipment has not been properly trained and causes an accident, it could result in liability for the construction site owner.
Hazardous Materials and Toxic Chemical Exposure
Hazardous materials (hazmat) and toxic chemical exposures pose serious health risks to construction workers. If exposed, these materials can cause cancer, organ damage, and acute poisoning. These injuries happen if a worker inhales, ingests, or absorbs the material. OSHA provides standards for safety protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE). When those standards aren’t followed, or the PPE isn’t provided, it can be another liability issue.
Determining Liability Beyond Workers’ Compensation
After a construction site accident, workers’ compensation is often the first viable option for reimbursing medical costs and partial lost wages.
Unfortunately, workers’ compensation does not also cover the full scope of your losses.
When injuries cause long-term disability or trigger significant pain and suffering, you’re entitled to seek a remedy that would go beyond the workers’ compensation benefits.
Construction sites are typically controlled by multiple entities. This can include general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and equipment manufacturers. Any one of those entities could be found liable for a construction site injury. Determining who to hold accountable is one of the reasons you need to speak with a skilled Cherry Hill construction accident lawyer.
Speaking with the attorneys at Folkman Law can help you identify every potential source of liability. We can help clients with the initial workers’ compensation claim and any appeal. We also navigate multi-party construction claims and advocate for injured workers who are facing both immediate and long-term challenges.
If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, we want to hear from you.
Let’s get your questions answered and discuss what should happen next.
