Hasner Law | Workers' Compensation | September 28, 2017
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that about 21 percent of workplace fatalities in 2015 were related to construction work. In fact, construction work is widely considered one of the most dangerous occupations. OSHA breaks the leading causes of deadly accidents on construction sites (in the private sector and excluding highway collisions) into what they call the fatal four—accidents involving falls, being struck by an object, electrocution, and being caught in or between objects.
Falls
Falls—at nearly 40 percent—account for the greatest number of fatal accidents on construction sites. Because construction sites often focus on work that must necessarily take place far from the ground, falls can be especially dangerous. Scaffolding, ladders, cranes, and other heavy equipment play important roles in construction work, and when they’re not properly erected, implemented, used, or serviced, they can be extremely dangerous.
Struck by an Object
Much as it is with falls, construction work is particularly prone to accidents involving falling objects, which account for nearly 10 percent of fatal accidents on construction sites. Construction work incorporates heavy tools, building materials, and construction debris, and when these construction elements aren’t carefully monitored through appropriate on-site safety plans, they can prove deadly. Hard hats are only the beginning when it comes to keeping construction workers safe on the job.
Electrocution
Electrocutions, at nearly 9 percent, are almost as deadly as accidents that involve being struck by objects. Construction sites are rife with electrical equipment, electrical components, and wiring connections. These factors make construction sites prone to accidents involving electricity. When construction sites aren’t equipped with adequate safety mechanisms for protecting construction workers from electrical accidents, they can become deadly.
Caught in or Between Objects
Construction sites incorporate huge machinery, equipment, and building materials, and these elements all present potential hazards for construction workers. When a worker becomes caught in or between such objects, the situation can quickly become deadly. OSHA calculates that such accidents account for just more than 7 percent of all deadly construction accidents. When construction companies don’t maintain scrupulous on-site safety conditions regarding heavy equipment, they put their construction workers in harm’s way.
Safety on the Job
Construction work is dangerous, but your employer owes you the duty to keep work sites up to the safety standards set by federal and state government. Accidents involving falls, being struck by objects, electrocution, and being stuck in or between objects are the most dangerous of all. If you or a family member have suffered such an accident, you need a skilled workers’ compensation attorney on your side.
Contact an Experienced Savannah Workers’ Compensation Attorney at Hasner Law PC Today
If you’re a construction worker, you know how dangerous that can be. If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, you’re likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
For more information, please contact the Savannah workers’ compensation law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:
Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
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Savannah, GA 31401
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