Over 270,000 construction-related injuries were reported in 2022. These numbers show that construction sites are one of the most hazardous places to work.
If you’re a construction worker, knowing your rights is crucial. In the unfortunate event of an injury, consulting construction accident attorneys can be immensely beneficial to you, as their thorough knowledge of the law could help your case.
Work conditions at construction sites that increase the risk of accidents
It is the duty of the contractor to ensure a safe working environment. Unfortunately, not all contractors follow such practices. Here are some factors that increase the risk of accidents at construction sites:
Lack of proper training
Not having a comprehensive training program that instructs all workers at a site on how to correctly load equipment, how to store equipment properly, how to move to minimize injuries, etc., can lead to injuries or accidents.
For example, an untrained worker may store equipment incorrectly, causing another worker to trip and fall, leading to fractures or head injuries.
Overworking construction workers
Contractors often push construction workers to meet strict deadlines, and workers are forced to put in extra hours, which leads to exhaustion and burnout.
Being overworked can cause workers to make errors of judgment that could lead to injuries or, worse, fatalities. The solution would be to have reasonable work hours and hire more workers or extend deadlines to a manageable date.
Lack of proper warning signs
Construction sites should have adequate warning signs to ensure that workers are aware when they’re around dangerous equipment or areas on site.
For example, payload warnings indicate how much weight a piece of equipment can carry. Without such warnings, workers may overload equipment, causing it to topple and injure workers.
There should also be warnings to indicate ledges or excavations so workers don’t accidentally fall off.
Faulty safety equipment
Contractors may skimp on providing good-quality safety equipment to cut costs. Issuing helmets or gloves that aren’t the right safety grade or failing to replace old and faulty equipment may lead to injury.
For instance, if a worker is issued a faulty helmet and a heavy object falls on them, the helmet may crack, and the worker may suffer a head injury.
Improper scaffolding
The most commonly reported injury on construction sites is falling from heights. This can be easily prevented with proper scaffolding, but unfortunately, many construction sites simply lack it.
Without proper scaffolding, workers might accidentally fall off unprotected edges.
Poor communication
Working at a construction site means operating many heavy and dangerous machines simultaneously. If a clear protocol for communication isn’t established, workers may injure themselves or others around them.
For example, if a crane operator doesn’t clearly indicate when a heavy object is being moved, another worker may walk onto the object’s path and injure themselves.
Other conditions
Workers are constantly exposed to a high-risk environment at construction sites, which can cause long-term physical and psychological injuries. Some of them include:
- Constant exposure to loud noises
- Exposure to high levels of heat
- Exposure to hazardous elements
Several laws and regulations are in place to ensure workers’ safety at construction sites. Contractors must follow such regulations. As a worker, you can hold your employer accountable if they fail to do so.
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