Construction accidents occur in many different ways. OSHA has the “Fatal Four” in which they point out the leading cause of fatalities for construction workers: falls, getting struck by objects, electrocutions, and getting caught in-between items.
When it comes to non-fatal injuries, the main sources of accidents involve parts and material incidents, worker motions and positions (a cause of repetitive stress injuries), hand tool accidents, and problems with the floor or walkways that cause workers to trip and fall.
Vehicles that are used in construction (excavating machines, backhoes, bulldozers, etc.) are also major sources of injuries.
The level of injury varies greatly, from bruises and lacerations to more major internal and head injuries. Often, construction injuries require surgery to fix as well as extensive rehabilitation times.
Steps For Safety
While not all accidents are preventable, most can be mitigated by company owners providing the following:
Proper Training
When an employee is hired and before they begin work, they need to undergo orientation which covers safety in the workplace. Construction sites have risks not associated with many other jobs. Each worker also need to be trained properly on the equipment they will be using. If they are not, and they use tools and machinery they have never used before, they could get seriously hurt.
Proper Equipment
All construction workers should be provided with safety gear associated with the kind of work they are performing. This includes footwear, eyewear, helmets, gloves, etc. If employers do not provide proper safety equipment and workers get hurt, company owners should be held liable.
What Comes Next?
If you are hurt in a construction accident, report it and seek medical attention. Keep all documentation and find out how much workers’ compensation insurance is going to cover.
Don’t panic if workers’ compensation offers an amount that you know won’t cover your expenses. Seek legal help from the Dante Law Firm. Our construction accident lawyers in North Miami Beach will work to secure enough compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost income if you can’t work, and pain and suffering damages. We don’t want someone else’s negligence to ruin you financially. Construction work is dangerous, and the men and women who work in construction deserve to be treated fairly if they are injured. You can contact us by clicking here or calling 305-949-2526 for a free consultation.