Construction workers often work on the edges of interstate roads with cars speeding by, suspended at great heights, and surrounded by heavy electrical machinery. On top of their dangerous work conditions, many construction workers are sleep deprived because they work late-night shifts and even double up on shifts to make ends meet.
Because of the above conditions, the construction industry is one of the most dangerous fields of work. In 2018, nearly 200,000 construction injury cases were filed, and that’s just the cases that were filed; many construction workers are injured at work, but they don’t file because they don’t want to be penalized by their employer.
OSHA identifies four different situations as the “Fatal Four” in construction because they cause the most worksite deaths per year. The government-run safety and health organization lists them as:
- Falls (33% of construction deaths)
- Struck-by-object (11% of construction deaths)
- Electrocutions (8-9% of construction deaths)
- Caught-in and/or caught-between (5-6% of construction deaths)
There are different levels of fall protection depending on the height. If a worker is working at over 30 feet in the air, one of the following safety precautions must be in place:
- Guardrail Systems
- Covers
- Personal Fall Arrest (PFA) systems
All fall hazards such as holes and unguarded edges must be covered or protected before construction begins. If the construction company fails to do this and an employee is injured, then they can contact a construction injury attorney in Sherman Oaks to file a lawsuit.
Electrocutions make up the second deadliest construction hazard, and there are specific regulations in place for this kind of specialized work.
Safe work practices to avoid electrocution include:
- Locate and identify live wires and other electrical hazards before starting construction
- Maintain a safe distance from power lines
- Use ground-fault surge protectors
Working with heavy equipment can severely injure employees if they are struck by these objects. This can result in brain damage and broken bones, all of which can force an employee off the job for a long period of time, if not forever. To avoid these incidents, OSHA recommends that construction site managers:
- Pay attention OSHA construction standards
- Provide proper protective gear such as reflective clothing and hardhats
- Provide extensive training for equipment and vehicles
Workers can also get caught inside or in-between machinery and trapped in pits and trenches. These situations can happen suddenly and severe injury employees.
To avoid these incidents, construction site managers should:
- Install protective systems around trenches 5 feet or deeper
- Advise workers to never position themselves between moving and fixed objects
If you are injured in a construction accident, then the construction company may have been negligent in protecting you. Contact a Sherman Oaks injury lawyer from Okhovat Law to discuss your options for financial compensation.