Construction workers face numerous hazards every time they report to a construction site for work, from dangerous heights to exposed wiring to chemical leaks and loud explosions. While we would like to say these hazards do not injure or even worse claim the lives of many construction workers in the country, we cannot. Construction sites are particularly prone to accidents, some fatal. In fact in 2015, out of 4,379 private industry fatalities in the United States, 937 (21.4%) were in construction.
Construction workers risk their lives to build America’s homes, roads, bridges, schools and hospitals. Their jobs may not be the cleanest, but they are the fabric of the country’s infrastructure. If you know a construction worker who was injured in the course of their work, contact a Texas construction plant accident attorney to help him receive a just compensation.
Top Construction Accident Injuries and their Causes
The most common construction accident injuries are:
- Head injuries
These result from falls from heights such as from roofs, scaffolding and ladders. They also occur when a worker is struck by a falling object such as a slab of concrete or heavy equipment such as hammers, drills, power saws and shovels.
Head injuries or trauma can cause severe concussions, disfigurement or brain damage.
- Spinal cord injuries
These occur because of falls from dangerous heights, slip and falls, trench collapses, wall collapses, getting struck by heavy objects and getting caught in-between heavy construction machinery and hard surfaces. For example, a construction worker can get stuck between a crane and a wall.
Spinal cord injuries are known to be incapacitating. They can impair motor function and even cause partial or full paralysis.
- Broken and fractured bones
Construction workers suffer these injuries when they fall from heights, slip and fall, get knocked or hit by heavy objects or get caught in between construction equipment. They may also suffer these injuries from consistently carrying or moving heavy equipment.
These injuries are painful and take plenty of time to heal. For a construction worker, this means days away from work and hundreds of dollars in lost wages.
- Burns
These occur because of explosions, fires, exposure to chemicals from leaking pipes and exposed wiring. Burns cause physical scarring, some of which can be disfiguring. In more serious cases, heavy burns such as second and third degree burns can be life-threatening.
- Toxic substance exposure
On site, construction workers get exposed to toxic substances such as lead from certain paints and asbestos from pipe insulations, floor tiles and tile adhesives, roofing felt and sealing compounds, and cement piping.
These toxic substances can cause cardiovascular or respiratory problems and both are known carcinogens.
Other common construction accident injuries include:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Knee and ankle injuries
- Eye injuries from being impaled by nails and shrapnel
- Hearing loss from consistent exposure to loud construction noises
- Amputation of fingers and toes from use of faulty or defective equipment.
Construction workers injured on site are eligible to claim for workers compensation. In some instances, they can claim against a third party. Consulting a Texas construction law attorney is the surest way to understanding and exploiting all your legal options. Contact us today at 361.LAWYERS (361-529-9377) for a free consultation.
