By its very nature, construction work presents a variety of risks. It’s physically demanding work that may require working at heights or in dangerous situations. It involves operating large machinery, which is hazardous in itself.
It probably comes as no surprise that construction work can cause some terrible accidents and severe injuries.
Frequent injurious incidents that occur on construction sites
There’s a reason why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) names the construction industry as one of the most hazardous. It’s not unusual for workers to need to work on top of buildings or in unstable conditions such as on scaffolding. There may be a necessity to also scale unsafe structures in order to fix them. This can easily lead to slips and falls. Similarly, there’s also a risk of falling into holes and ditches which can cause the same type of injury.
Some other common risks include:
- The possibility of asbestos exposure – You can’t always tell just by looking at a building what risks it poses. One of these hidden risks is asbestos. It only becomes apparent at the point of working on them or tearing them down. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause serious diseases, including cancer, which may not be evident until years after exposure has occurred.
- Power tool injuries – Construction sites often feature heavy machinery and dangerous tools. Workers can easily cut themselves or even lose limbs as a result of accidents with tools on site.
- Repetitive strain injury – Carrying out the same type of work time after time can cause damage to muscle and tissue, which can be debilitating if left untreated.
- The chance of electrocution – Working with machinery, exposure to unsafe electrical wiring and working at heights all contribute to the risks of workers incurring electrical burns.
Being injured at a construction site can leave you out of work and burdened by significant financial worries. A workers’ compensation benefits award can help you to pay the bills until you can work again. If you qualify for these benefits, don’t hesitate in seeking legal guidance because the benefits application process is unusually time-sensitive.
