Construction sites are one of the most dangerous places to work, and accidents can happen at any time. They can cause severe injuries, disabilities, and even death. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the most common types of construction accidents include falls, electrocutions, struck-by-object incidents, and caught-in-between incidents.
Below, we will discuss these common types of construction accidents and provide tips on how to avoid them.
1. Falls
Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Workers can fall from ladders, scaffolds, roofs, and other elevated surfaces. To prevent falls, workers should always wear proper safety equipment, such as harnesses and safety nets. Employers should also provide training on how to properly use ladders and scaffolds and ensure that these structures are in good condition.
2. Electrocutions
Electrocutions can occur when workers come into contact with live electrical wires or equipment. To prevent electrocutions, workers should always be aware of their surroundings and avoid working near electrical hazards. Employers should also ensure that workers are properly trained in electrical safety and that all electrical equipment is properly maintained.
3. Struck-by-object incidents
Struck-by-object incidents occur when workers are hit by falling or flying objects, such as tools, equipment, or building materials. To prevent these incidents, workers should always wear hard hats and avoid working under loads that are being lifted. Employers should also ensure that all materials and equipment are properly secured and that workers are trained in proper lifting techniques.
4. Caught-in-between incidents
Caught-in-between incidents occur when workers are caught between two objects or pieces of equipment. These incidents can happen when working in trenches, excavations, or confined spaces. To prevent caught-in-between incidents, workers should always follow proper safety procedures when working in these areas. Employers should also ensure that workers are properly trained in these procedures and that all equipment is properly maintained.
5. Vehicle accidents
Vehicle accidents can occur when workers are operating heavy machinery or when vehicles are moving around the construction site. To prevent vehicle accidents, workers should always wear proper safety equipment, such as seat belts and helmets. Employers should also ensure that all vehicles are properly maintained and that workers are properly trained in operating this equipment.
Common Sources of Construction Site Injuries
In the New York State, some common construction hazards that occur frequently include:
- Slip and Falls on Wet or Uneven Surfaces: Melting snow and spring rain create slippery conditions, leading to falls from scaffolds, ladders, and rooftops. Jobsite supervisors and construction management companies should delay projects that would become unsafe if it rains too much.
- Falling Objects: Working on roofs and scaffolding means tools and materials can fall, causing head injuries and severe trauma to anyone below. Just like how springtime can create slippery surfaces that make workers fall, those same slippery surfaces can make it much more likely for a tool or piece of equipment to slide away from a worker and fall off the roof of scaffolding.
- Falls from Elevated Surfaces: Construction crews often work on scaffolding, ladders, and rooftops. Without proper fall protection, a slip or misstep can result in catastrophic injuries or death. With more construction being done during the spring, the number of scaffolding being used at any given time goes up, which means the risk of a fall accident inherently goes up, too. Falls from heights remain one of the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry, and employers are required by law to provide adequate safety equipment.
- Vehicle and Machinery Accidents: In the spring and summer, people are more likely to make short journeys throughout town than they are in the winter and colder months. Roadwork zones can become busy with heavy equipment and passing traffic during the spring, increasing the risk of serious injuries.
- Electrocution Hazards: Outdoor construction often involves working around powerlines and electrical systems, which pose significant dangers on the best of days, especially when safety protocols aren’t followed. In the Spring, electrical utility companies often conduct powerline maintenance and upkeep. If a utility company is working on a powerline near an active construction site, the risk of an electrical contact injury or fatality can increase.
What You Can Do to Stay Safe
Construction work can be dangerous, but if the worksite complies with established federal and state safety laws and standards, it shouldn’t cost you your life. A smart construction worker understands that the best way to ensure safety on the job site is through personal vigilance and care for one’s own well-being. However, some jobs on the site are objectively more dangerous than others, requiring additional attention to safety.
As a worker, you’re entitled under OSHA regulations to a work environment that is “free of known dangers,” and many additional safety regulations govern best practices to ensure that those dangers are controlled. It is no coincidence that some of the most violated safety standards relate to fall protection on a job site. If you fear that your employer is not in compliance with applicable safety regulations, you are entitled to request information on injury rates, safety information, training, or an OSHA inspection.
While no one wants to single themselves out as a whistleblower for fear that they may not be hired again, there are protections in place under the Occupational Safety & Health Act to prevent retaliation from an employer against an employee who exercises their right to an OSHA inspection. If you believe that you have been blacklisted, transferred, had your hours reduced, been turned down for a promotion, or otherwise punished, you should file a report detailing the retaliation to OSHA within 30 days.
Additionally, you hold the right to refuse to perform a task at work when you believe a workplace condition puts your health and safety in peril, if your employer has refused to remediate the dangerous condition, and if you reasonably believe that the condition puts you in danger of serious injury or death, and there would not be enough time to have the condition inspected by OSHA.
Your Rights After a Construction Injury in New York
If you get hurt while working on a construction site in the Hudson Valley, whether it is Spring or not, you should know three things:
- Workers’ Compensation: Injured workers are entitled to medical benefits and wage replacement through Workers’ Compensation, regardless of fault. Not all construction workers are covered by workers’ comp, though. Some construction workers, especially seasonal workers hired at the start of the springtime construction boom, are independent contractors or are otherwise not required by law to be provided workers’ comp coverage by their employer. If you aren’t sure if you have workers’ compensation insurance, an attorney can help you figure it out, as well as the next steps to take.
- Third-Party Claims: If your injury was caused by faulty equipment, a negligent contractor, or another third party, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit for any compensation that was not provided by workers’ compensation. Or if you do not have workers’ compensation coverage and someone else’s mistake on the jobsite caused you to suffer a construction injury, your only option might be to file an injury claim against any liable party, which could include your employer. Such cases are complicated, though, so you should only start one with the help of a lawyer.
- Legal Representation Matters: Insurance companies often try to minimize the extent of a construction worker’s injuries so it can also minimize the value of their injury or workers’ comp claim. For this reason and those mentioned previously, getting an experienced personal injury attorney after suffering a work injury as a construction worker is highly recommended.
Basch Keegan & Spada Has Your Back
Construction accidents can be prevented with proper training, equipment, and safety procedures. By understanding the most common types of construction accidents and how to avoid them, workers and employers can create a safer work environment. If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, contact Basch Keegan & Spada for a free consultation. Our experienced construction accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve.