Many people who walk or drive past a construction site are intimidated by the massive equipment and supplies being used, moved and installed at the site. It comes as no wonder that if an accident were to occur at a construction site, the results often leave victims with serious or catastrophic injuries.
The sheer size and power of the equipment, and the weight and size of the materials being used, also play a substantial role in construction accidents. Whether a crew is erecting a tower, creating a building or repairing or creating roads, there is always the potential for an accident. There are many hazards often associated with constructions sites that may lead to work-related injuries.
Common injuries include scaffolding or ladder collapses or falls, forklift accidents, electrical accidents and crane accidents. While many accidents are true “accidents” that could not have been avoided, it is not uncommon for accidents to be the result of faulty or defective equipment, oversights by an employer or contractor or human error by fellow construction workers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or “OSHA,” was formed to help protect American workers. They have various rules and regulations in place that employers must adhere to in an effort to assure that all work environments are free of known dangers and that, when a danger is present, employees are properly trained and equipped with safety accessories to prevent an injury, illness or death. In addition, workers who believe they are working in an unsafe environment may file a claim with OSHA to have the jobsite inspected. If you have been the victim of an accident at your worksite, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits for injuries.
Source: findlaw.com, “Construction Injury Overview,” Accessed June 12, 2017
