The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the construction industry is the third most dangerous industry in the United States for workplace fatalities. It ranks behind only agriculture and transportation. Thirteen percent of fatal work injuries each year are in the construction industry.
OSHA reports that 1.3% of construction workers in South Carolina sustain a nonfatal occupational injury or illness each year.
The Most Frequent Types of Construction Injuries
Brain trauma
The CDC says that 25% of construction fatalities result from brain trauma. The construction industry has the most fatal and nonfatal brain trauma injury rates of any industry in the United States. Traumatic brain injury may result from a fall or being struck by an object. Flying objects, collapsing structures, equipment, and motor vehicles all create a risk of brain trauma on a construction site.
Broken bones
A construction accident may bend a limb in an unusual way, causing a broken bone. A worker may become entangled in machinery or may be run over by heavy equipment. If a bone sustains more pressure than it can withstand, it will break. Broken bones are painful, can prevent muscle movement, and can be disfiguring. Surgery to set the bone may be required.
Spinal cord injury
Trauma to the back or neck can cause spinal cord injury. When a spinal cord injury is complete, all feeling and function below the point of injury is lost. While treatment cannot restore function, a person can benefit from rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and comprehensive treatment.
Burns
A burn may be the result of an electrical accident or a fire. Burns often lead to complications like infection, organ dysfunction, and respiratory distress. A person may benefit from skin grafting.
They should be monitored for infection risk throughout recovery.
Amputation
Machinery is responsible for 58% of workplace amputations across all industries. Amputation may be the result of an accident that causes traumatic detachment of a limb. Amputation may also be necessary because of a crushing accident.
Crushing injury, organ damage
A person is at risk of a crushing injury from heavy machinery or fallen objects. Crushing can damage internal organs and bodily systems.
Damage may be immediate, or a person may develop compartment syndrome or reperfusion syndrome that is toxic in the body.
Cardiac problems
Electrical accidents can cause cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac injury. Myocardial tissue may be damaged. The heart’s central location in the body makes it especially susceptible to absorbing electricity from an accident.
Causes of Serious Injuries on Construction Sites
Falls
Approximately 38.4% of construction industry deaths are from slips, trips, and falls. Someone may fall from a higher level, such as from scaffolding, a roof, or a ladder, or they may fall on the same surface. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that falls on construction sites are usually to a lower level.
Motor vehicle accidents
Transportation accidents rank second behind falls for the greatest number of fatalities of construction laborers. Vehicles are present on work sites, but roads and traffic control measures that exist for safety are often not present. Sometimes, a work site is near a busy road, increasing the chance of vehicle accidents.
Moving machinery
Construction workers use heavy machinery with mechanical parts that can malfunction. Even if machinery functions properly, a person may become entangled. The result may be a struck by or caught-in accident that causes serious injury.
Operational error
Safe construction work requires careful planning, the right equipment, and trained professionals.
A lack of knowledge or attention to the task may be an underlying cause of common construction injuries.
Structure collapse
Scaffolding, a ladder, or a building may collapse. A person may be injured by falling with the collapsing structure or by being under it.
Electrical malfunction, fire
Construction work often involves electricity and gasoline-powered machinery. A fire can result in accidental burns or electrocution.
Energized wiring, powerlines, circuitry, and power tools can also pose an electrical risk.
Safety Standards and How They Prevent Construction Injuries
The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) establishes safety standards in the construction industry. These standards are based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for the industry, but there may be some state-specific differences.
Safety standards cover many topics important to the prevention of construction accidents and common injuries. These standards include topics such as:
- Excavation
- Electrical
- Materials handling
- Tools (hand and power)
- Fall protection, scaffolding
- Commercial driving
- Stairways and ladders
- Working in confined spaces
- Cranes
- Rollover protection
- Demolition
- Underground construction
For example, fall protection is important in the construction industry. OSHA standards dictate when fall protection should be used.
Physical barriers and harnesses are two methods that can help prevent falls. A harness must be the right size for the worker. Ladder safety should also be observed.
Employers must know what safety standards apply, empower their workers to comply with regulations, and create a culture of safety.
What To Do If You Suffer an Injury While Working in Construction
If you suffer an injury while working in construction, seek emergency medical attention. Ensure that anyone who is hurt is in a safe place and that people are not at risk of additional harm. Notify the employer. In addition, the employer may need to notify the NCDOL OSH division if a death occurs or if an injury results in an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye.
Seeking Compensation for Construction Accident Injuries
If you have suffered an injury in a construction accident, whether it is common or uncommon, you may receive compensation. If you are an employee, workers’ compensation laws will likely apply. However, you may also have a third-party claim. Construction sites often have many companies and entities present. A lawyer can help you determine what benefits and compensation you may qualify to receive and can advise you on how to claim your benefits.
Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Robert “Bobby” Jones of Bobby Jones Law is an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. If you have suffered an injury in a construction accident, you have important rights. Our law firm helps people get the benefits they deserve. Call or message us now.
