Construction is a physically demanding and mentally taxing industry. Those who work on job sites across New York know that they can be working with powerful equipment, bad weather, heights, and countless other risky elements on a regular basis.
Considering how often workers are exposed to dangerous conditions, it should not be surprising that accidents happen on construction sites. And when they do occur, they can be quite severe. And some accidents are far more common than others.
How are workers most likely to get hurt?
According to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the four most common (and deadly) accidents in the construction industry are:
Other accidents that can happen on construction sites include motor vehicle accidents, poisoning from toxic substances and weather-related injuries.
The consequences of these incidents can be dire. In some cases, these injuries prove to be fatal. Often, workers experience:
Being aware of the kind of accidents and resulting injuries that happen most often could help workers avoid them.
Preventing and responding to an accident
In the construction setting, numerous precautions can keep workers safe.
Employers should provide workers training and enforce safety protocols on the site; workers should have proper training and wear protective gear.
However, sometimes these precautions fail; sometimes, they are not appropriately observed in the first place. In fact, additional statistics from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene show that in 90 percent of fatal construction accidents, there were serious safety violations, including training and fall protection violations.
Regardless of the reason for an accident, injured workers and their families can be eligible for legal and financial support if something does happen. Depending on an incident’s details, there could be workers’ compensation benefits and damages through personal injury claims available.
