Struck-By Accidents

STRUCK-BY CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS

According to the U.S. Occupation Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), struck-by accidents are the third leading cause of construction site fatalities in the nation. Generally speaking, a “struck-by” injury occurs when an object hits a worker. Falling objects, moving vehicles, and flying debris are two examples of “stuck-by” hazards. Struck-by accidents account for 10% of all construction worker fatalities in the U.S. OSHA defines “struck-by” as:

“…produced by forcible contact or impact between the injured person and an object or piece of equipment. Having said that, it is important to point out that in construction, struck-by hazards can resemble caught–in or –between hazards.”

There are four categories of “struck-by” accident:

• Falling Objects
• Swinging Objects
• Flying Objects
• Rolling Objects

To prevent these accidents, New York Labor Law requires construction site companies and employers to provide safe work environments for their employees. This includes safe equipment, safety gear, and adequate training.

Training is one of the best ways to prevent any construction accident. To avoid “struck-by” accidents specifically, employers and construction workers should learn to identify potential hazards so that they can prevent and avoid an injury.

Statistics indicate that collapsing structures and falling materials are two of the most common reasons for “struck-by” accidents, injuries, and fatalities. In fact, 14% of crane accidents in 2008 occurred when a worker was hit by the crane’s load. 39% of crane accidents occurred when the machinery collapsed.

How to Avoid “Struck-By” Injuries

A multitude of situations can lead to a “struck-by” injury, but workers can avoid some of these accidents by:

• Not standing or working within the swing radius of a large machine (crane, etc.)
• Always wearing protective gear (goggles, face shield, etc.) while striking or grinding materials
• Double checking crane loads to make sure that they are properly connected to the crane
• Always wearing head protection (such as a hard hat) in a construction zone
• Never transporting unsecured materials
• Never working underneath suspended loads
• Never operating heavy equipment without full visibility

Contact Our New York City Accident Lawyers

At Greenberg & Stein, P.C., we are well-versed in construction accident claims and lawsuits. When you work with our firm, you can rest assured that our team of New York City construction accident attorneys will exhaust every available resource to help you obtain a just settlement. We have seven decades of collective legal experience; call our office today so we can put it to work for your case.