Construction is known to be one of the most dangerous occupations.  Unfortunately, some employers tend to prioritize completing projects on time and push workers to complete jobs in a hurry. In many cases, they end up compromising on costs and their workers’ safety.

According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), 20% or 1,061 worker fatalities in the private industry were construction workers. Most accidents result from some form of negligence like unsafe worksite conditions, improper tools, and lack of protection.

Causes of construction accidents

There are many causes of construction accidents. Some of the most common include:

Falls

Falls occur from a height, leading to catastrophic accidents and severe injuries. According to OSHA, 36% of construction deaths were a consequence of a fall in places without adequate fall protection like:

• Stairwells without guardrails
• Open-sided floor steps where workers step back or sideways without looking

Struck by object

Improperly used machinery and equipment can strike, injure and even kill workers. These construction deaths are preventable by training employees to use:

• Park brakes on stationary vehicles
• Tool guards
• Catch platforms
• Reverse vehicle alarms
• Personal protection equipment

Electrocutions

Sometimes construction workers accidentally touch power lines or exposed electrical sources, leading to severe injuries or death. Electrocution accidents often involve:

• Overhead or underground power lines
• An energized power source
• Damaged receptacles and connectors

They end up touching the exposed electrical source with something metallic like ladders or tools and end up injured or dead.

Caught-in/between

Everyone knows the consequences of standing in between heavy equipment and immovable objects. Your body ends up caught, compressed, pinched, or squeezed in between the objects.

Unfortunately, some construction workers inevitably end up dangerously caught in between heavy objects in their course of work. Examples are:

• Cave-ins
• Body parts like fingers getting caught in moving parts
• Getting pinned in between a wall and heavy equipment

Slips and falls

It’s common to find construction workers slipping and falling due to unsafe conditions like open trenches or holes and exposed stakes.

Ladder accidents

Ladder accidents often lead to injury and long-term disability. Some of the most common causes of ladder accidents include:

• Use the wrong ladder
• Improperly set up the ladder someplace slippery or unstable
• Lose their balance or slip
• Use a defective or poorly maintained ladder

Power tool and machinery accidents

These accidents usually occur because of:

• Mechanical defects
• Insufficient training
• Electrical failure
• Lack of safety equipment

Vehicle accidents

Construction site vehicles like backhoes, forklifts, and dump trucks can lead to accidents when:

• The vehicle accidentally turns or maneuvers with the load raised
• The vehicle backs up and hits someone
• Someone falls from the vehicle

Take prompt action: Consult your Georgia personal injury lawyer Today

Of all of these causes,  falls, struck by objects, electrocution, and caught-in-between accidents kill nearly three out of five construction workers. These accidents, however, could have been prevented through:

• Common sense
• Proper training
• Protective measures like awareness
• Safe and secure working conditions.

So do not waste time.

Consult a personal injury lawyer in Georgia if you or your colleague suffers from on-the-job injuries. With prompt action, your lawyer can uncover the violations that lead to your accident and collect and preserve evidence. They can then prove your employer’s negligence and help you recover total compensation for your injury.