Common Injuries for Construction Workers

29 Oct

Written by admin
Category
Injured at Work

Construction workers are at risk for a number of injuries based on their occupation and proximity to heavy equipment. In 2018, 4,779 work fatalities were recorded, and 21.1% of those deaths were construction workers. While there are many injuries common in construction, OSHA has coined the phrase “Fatal Four” to refer to four types of accidents that often are responsible for more than half of construction worker fatalities.

OSHA’s Fatal Four

Construction is dangerous, and yet, it’s essential to our lives from jobs to homes. The construction industry sees many different types of injuries. But the fatal four are the following: falls, struck by an object, electrocution, and caught-in/between situations. Construction workers should be extremely cautious while working.

While the fatal four are statistically the biggest concern for construction workers, there are still a wide array of safety hazards and health risks that they may come across while at work.

Quick List of the Most Common Injuries for Construction Workers

Back Injury – heavy lifting, steep falls, repetitive motion
Head Injury – falling debris, falls
Eye Injury – air particles, debris, and more
Knee Injury – heavy lifting, repetitive motion, debris-obstructed pathway
Crushing Injury – project collapse, trench collapse, equipment failure
Burn Injury – chemical hazards, flammable materials, surprise explosions
Heatstroke Injury – harsh work environments, long hours, extreme heat
Respiratory Disease – Asbestos, Black Lung, Chronic Pneumonia
Hearing Injury – loud machinery, repetitive noises, explosions
Muscle Injury – heavy lifting, repetitive motion

While many of these injuries can be avoided with the right safety measures in place, some are just accidents. Construction workers should do their best to wear protective clothing and know the various risks involved with their work, choosing to make smart decisions based on their construction area.

Common Injuries for Construction Workers: The Causes

Construction injuries stem from many different causes. Some causes of injury can be easy to spot, but many injuries are the result of prolonged exposure to harmful substances or environments, compounding physical damage, or other underlying causes. As stated above, OSHA notes the fatal four causes of fatalities in the construction industry but doesn't account for the even larger number of injuries that result from these causes.

Trips and Falls

Construction workers are much more likely to experience dangerous falls due to their line of work. From cranes to roofs to ladders to scaffolding, construction workers often operate at dangerous heights.

Falling Debris

Hard hats are an effective piece of equipment that construction workers should wear at all times while on site, but hard hats cannot protect workers from all forms of falling debris. From old materials, to loose tools to scaffolding, falling debris can cause major harm.

Equipment-Related Accidents

Heavy machinery comes with a variety of risks. Equipment can misfire, stop working properly, or fail in some way. In such situations, the equipment may fall into the category of product liability.

Squished or Crushed

Construction sites often mean large machinery such as trucks and more. Workers can be caught between the large vehicle and other items.

Project Collapses

In some cases, a project may have an accidental collapse. A building or trench could collapse, injuring, trapping, or killing workers who are stuck.

Respiratory Diseases

Construction workers come in contact with dangerous chemicals and dust particles while working on projects. Workers often face sites that have Asbestos, Silica, and other hazards.

Have you been injured while working in a construction site? Speak with a lawyer today to determine your next steps under the law by emailing office@carrilloinjurylaw.com.