Today’s construction sites have come a long way over the last century. With the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established in 1970, worksites have seen dramatic improvements in workplace safety over the years.
Unfortunately, even with protective safety regulations, today’s construction sites are still dangerous places to work. More than 5,200 workers died at work in 2018. Construction sites are still responsible for a large number of these deaths. The four most common causes of construction-related deaths are falls, being struck by an object, electrocutions, and getting caught between equipment. About 58% of all construction accidents involved these “fatal four” injuries. [1]
Were you injured in an accident while on a construction site? If so, our Hollywood construction accident attorneys are here to help. From filing workers’ compensation claims to filing a lawsuit against a third party, Schlacter Law has the resources necessary to help you get the compensation you need today.
While most workplace sites are kept as safe as possible, accidents can happen at any time. When an accident occurs on a construction site, there are some common causes that occur more often than others. These include:
Slips and falls Being struck by objects Electrocutions Caught in-between Poor adherence to safety standards Equipment failure Vehicle accidentsSlip and falls are the leading cause of construction site accidents. There are numerous hazards that can cause a worker to slip, including wet surfaces, obstructions, and slippery surfaces. Even if a worker wears the appropriate footwear for the conditions, there are obstacles such as manhole covers, building materials, and uneven surfaces which all too easily cause a slip.
The second leading cause of construction accidents occurs when a worker is struck by an object. One such example is the use of heavy machinery operating too close to a worker and as it accidentally strikes them. Other examples happen when cargo is being unloaded and is improperly secured, as well as tools and objects accidentally falling from high above other workers.
Electrocutions are another major cause of Hollywood construction site accidents. There are several causes of these types of accidents. Often, when a site worker is installing wiring or equipment electrocution can occur if the power was not properly shut off. Other causes include coming in contact with overhead power lines and touching equipment that wasn’t properly grounded.
Often an accident is caused when a worker gets stuck between machinery or equipment. If heavy machinery shifts or moves without a worker noticing it’s all too easy to get squeezed or compressed between two objects, causing serious harm.
Construction sites are subject to OSHA guidelines for safety and should follow these safety precautions to protect workers. When these guidelines are ignored people can get hurt. Examples include a failure to put up safety barriers, failing to properly secure ladders, or failing to properly train equipment operators.
Most construction sites contain tools and equipment that contain moving parts and require maintenance to ensure that they operate properly. When equipment is poorly maintained it can fail to perform as it should, putting people at risk of an accident. Even if proper maintenance is performed some equipment can fail simply by the nature of how it’s used, such as a crane that is improperly overloaded.
Many construction sites have numerous vehicles performing various tasks throughout the job site. This might include pickup trucks, bulldozers, forklifts, and backhoes. Some vehicles provide little or no visibility for the operator to assess their surroundings, making it easy to accidentally hit someone in their path. And some vehicles, such as bulldozers, may operate on uneven surfaces, making it easy for a vehicle to overturn and injure operators and other workers nearby.
When an accident happens, a construction injury lawyer can help. Schlacter Law’s construction accident lawyers understand how devastating an accident can be. Our construction accident law firm works hard to ensure that our clients get the help they need to recover from an onsite injury.
Due to the use of heavy equipment and constantly changing environmental conditions, construction accident injuries are some of the most severe accidents that occur in the workplace. Some of the most common injuries include:
Broken bones and sprains Cuts and abrasions Burns Spinal cord injuries Brain and skull injuries Toxic chemical illnessesWith slip and falls being the most common cause of injuries, it’s not uncommon for accidents to result in broken bones and sprains. When someone falls over a break can occur when a hand is put out to brace a fall, or a leg bone can break when falling onto other objects. Broken bones frequently occur as well if a worker is stuck between objects and is compressed by thousands of pounds of pressure. And with massive machinery, any vehicle accident can result in a broken bone.
Cuts and abrasions are common in workplace situations where sharp and heavy equipment is in use. On construction sites, tools such as chainsaws, jackhammers, and utility knives can inflict wounds serious enough to require immediate medical care, resulting in the need for stitches, amputations, and possibly scaring a victim for life.
Whenever there is a possibility of a fire, there is a possibility of a burn. Construction sites often store flammable materials such as gasoline to operate machinery, and when these materials catch fire anyone in its path can easily be injured. Electrocutions can also cause severe burning where the electricity entered and left the body.
Spinal cord injuries are common on Hollywood construction sites. From slip and falls to vehicle accidents, a worker is always in a potential situation that can damage the spine. Spinal injuries often lead to more serious injuries such as partial or complete paralysis, which may require medical care for the rest of someone’s life.
Similar to spinal cord injuries, brain injuries are also common on work sites. Even when wearing a safety helmet, equipment that falls from above can easily hit someone’s head with enough force to cause a serious injury or a skull fracture. It is important that anyone onsite wear OSHA-approved head safety protection at all times although the proper safety gear does not always ensure that an accident will be injury-free.
Construction sites often store necessary materials that are toxic to workers. This might include chemicals used for cleaning, as well as toxic materials such as chemicals in pressure-treated lumber, formaldehyde, and phthalates used in certain plastics. When exposed to some of these chemicals, workers can experience toxic reactions that require immediate medical care.
Each accident comes with its own unique set of circumstances and unique injuries. When evaluating compensation for these injuries, a construction site accident attorney looks at each situation to help determine the types and amount of money available. Call our Hollywood construction injury law firm today so we can help get you the compensation you need today.
References
https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats ↩In cases where a lawsuit would need to be filed to seek compensation, Florida has established statutes of limitations that require that a claim is filed within a certain time period. To ensure that this deadline is not overlooked talk with a Hollywood construction injury attorney today.
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