Construction Site Injuries
Working construction has its pros and cons. For example, it’s typically a steady job with all the growth taking place around the country, but it’s also fairly dangerous depending on what role you play. Being injured while on a construction site is a true risk that most workers are unable to avoid. When you are injured, you are typically entitled to compensation. Some common construction site hazards include moving objects, noise, working at height and falling.
Moving Objects
Construction sites have constant movement. Whether it’s mechanical or manual, there’s always a tool or a worker that’s doing something. Moving objects include hammers, diggers, cranes and even objects falling from someone working at height. To reduce the chance that you might become injured by a moving object on a construction site, do your best to distance yourself from the moving objects on the site. If a moving object doesn’t have lights on it, attach reflectors, and always use PPE that includes reflectors.
Noise
Sometimes construction workers don’t experience the damage from noise until well after retirement, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an issue. Noise is a serious hazard of construction sites because of how loud it gets and how long a worker will be susceptible to the noise. Some noise causes hearing loss, while other noises could distract a worker, leading to other types of injuries.
Working at Height
Every construction worker who is required to work at height should undergo proper training before heading up. Roofs, scaffolding, ladders and other high surfaces all pose a risk, and there are different safety protocols for each. If you can, avoid having to work at height, but if the job does require it:
- Do as much of the work as possible on the ground before going up.
- Use equipment that isn’t quite as dangerous as tools you might use on the ground.
- Secure yourself and follow other safety protocols, such as using a safety net.
Falling
There are so many ways someone could trip, slip or fall when on a construction site. There’s always a lot going on, and sometimes things just get messy. Some things you can do to avoid a trip or a fall include cleaning up your workspace, watching for uneven surfaces, putting away the cables and marking slippery surfaces properly.
Contact an Attorney
Construction site accidents happen far too often. If you are injured while on a construction site, contact a personal injury lawyer for assistance.