Construction accidents can easily cause devastating injuries. In severe cases, workers who are involved in construction accidents might end up succumbing to their injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has listed four common construction accidents that can prove to be devastating. Preventing these accidents must be a priority.
Electrocution is one hazard that must be avoided. Making sure to follow proper safety protocols, like having utilities marked and making sure tools are grounded, is critical. Watching out for overhead power lines and staying away from them are necessary. When you notice overhead power lines, make sure that your equipment doesn’t touch the lines.
Struck-by accidents and caught-in accidents are two other serious accidents. Making sure that you don’t move in the path of moving objects, especially between a moving object and a fixed object, is one way to protect yourself from a struck-by accident. If you are working in a trench or doing an excavation, make sure that there is a proper system in place to prevent you from being buried.
Falls are another serious hazard. Making sure that you use ladders and scaffolds in an appropriate manner can prevent some falls. Using equipment that can help to minimize fall risks, such as harnesses, can also help to prevent fall-related injuries.
If proper protocol isn’t used and you suffered an injury in a construction accident, you might opt to seek compensation for the injuries. This can come in the form of workers’ compensation in some cases. It can also come in the form of seeking compensation from third parties if the accident was caused by a third party.
Source: United States Department of Labor, “Top Four Construction Hazards,” accessed Jan. 19, 2016
