What are the most common construction site accidents?

Construction sites pose one of the most dangerous work environments in the United States. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), of the 4,379 fatal workplace accidents in 2015, 937 were in construction, meaning that 21% or nearly 1 in 5 worker deaths were related to construction work.

The nature of the work often includes exposure to heights, heavy machinery, dangerous power tools, exposure to electrocution and hazardous substances, among many other potentially dangerous situations.

Workplace Safety

OSHA is an agency of the US Department of Labor and was created to ensure the safe and healthy working conditions of men and women by establishing and enforcing workplace safety standards, while also providing training, outreach, and education.

By law, your employer must provide employees with a workplace that does not have serious hazards and must follow all of OSHA’s safety and health standards, which can range from how to properly erect scaffolding to the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Construction’s “Fatal Four”

According to OSHA, among the 937 fatal construction accidents in 2015, there were four leading causes of death that were responsible for more than half (64%) of all construction worker deaths.

These leading causes have been referred to as the “Fatal Four”—and eliminating them would save more than 600 lives in America every year.

The four leading causes of death are:

– Falls from heights (the single largest source)

– Getting struck by an object

– Electrocutions

– Caught-in/between (which includes when workers are struck, caught, or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials)

Nearly 85% of the OSHA citations and 90% of the resulting fines associated with construction accidents are related to the Fatal Four.

Even the most cautious construction worker may find themselves hospitalized or bed-ridden thanks to the injuries posed by modern day construction sites. Although many construction hazards may lead to injury, that doesn’t mean it’s something you signed up for when you took the job.

New York State Labor Laws are designed to protect workers on the job and enable you to seek compensation if you have been injured in a construction site.

There is also a state-regulated system for injured workers called workers’ compensation, and employers who carry workers’ compensation must provide compensation to an injured employee, which includes covering lost wages, medical coverage, rehabilitation, temporary and permanent disability, and more.

Seeking Professional Legal Help

If you’ve been injured at a construction site, the first thing you should do is seek medical help. It is extremely important to have your injuries looked at by a medical professional and to have them documented in written form. Proof of the nature and extent of your injuries is crucial to filing a successful workers’ compensation claim or seeking additional compensation.

Be sure to also document the details of your accident, including time, date, location, any potential witnesses, and more. Photographing your injuries will also bolster any claim you may choose to make.

You are also well within your legal rights to consult with a New York construction attorney such as the experienced team at Greenberg & Stein. Our team of dedicated lawyers will help walk you through your legal recourses and what options are available to you.

We firmly believe that no one should lose money due to medical bills, missed paychecks, or future employment opportunities due to an on the job injury.

If you are in need of a New York construction attorney, it is important to find one immediately. You must take action as soon as possible to get the best outcome for your case. And with a free consultation and a 24-hour phone line, we want to make that easy for you. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call us today at 888-411-3966 for a free legal consultation.