What Are the Most Common Causes of Construction Accidents?
On a construction site, there is a wide range of risks and hazards that individuals are exposed to while on the job. From dealing with heavy machinery to working high off the ground, construction site workers are constantly at risk of sustaining serious, life-changing injuries and even fatalities.
If you’ve suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a construction accident, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for losses such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and other damages like funeral/burial expenses. An experienced construction accident attorney can determine the cause of the accident, identify all liable parties, and gather the necessary evidence to strengthen your case for full and fair financial recovery.
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What Are the Most Common Causes of Construction Accidents?
The specific risks construction workers face on the job site depend on the nature of the project. However, while construction industry accidents may occur for many reasons, some dangers are more common than others.
Negligence continues to be one of the most significant contributors to these accidents. For example, accidents and injuries are more likely to occur when construction equipment is defective or contractors misuse tools and cause injuries.
Here is some helpful information about the leading causes of different types of construction accidents:
Falls
In the construction industry, falls are among the most common causes of catastrophic injury and death. Falls accounted for an estimated 37 percent of construction fatalities in recent years.
Anytime a construction worker is six feet or more above the ground, OSHA standards require employers to provide fall protection systems, such as guardrails and safety nets, as well as adequate training on how to use them. A fall of merely ten feet can result in a spinal fracture, while a 30-foot fall is almost certain to cause severe injuries.
Most fatal falls happen from heights exceeding 15 feet, usually due to unprotected edges or improperly secured platforms. Nearly 40 percent of these deadly incidents can be attributed to falls from scaffolding.
The following are additional examples of factors that contribute to falling injuries:
- Cluttered or wet walkways
- Unmarked trenches or excavation sites
- Faulty or improperly maintained equipment
- Lack of proper railings on construction sites and scaffolding
- Limited access to harnesses, lanyards, and other essential safety gear
- Scaffolding collapse due to overloading or exceeding weight limits
- Improper ladder usage or unsecured flooring/ roofing materials
- Neglecting to follow recommended safety protocols and guidelines
If a third party was negligent in causing the fall, they can be held legally accountable for any resulting injuries or deaths. A skilled construction accident attorney can assess the details of your case and establish if negligence played a role in the accident.
Electrocution
Electrocutions lead to severe or fatal injuries caused by exposure to dangerous levels of electrical energy. Workers in the construction industry are nearly four times more likely to be electrocuted than workers in other industries.
A significant number of the electrocution risks on construction sites are caused by:
- Exposed wiring and wet conditions near outlets
- Overloaded circuits or improper use of extension cords
- Inadequate grounding of electrical systems or equipment
- Failure to follow appropriate lockout/tagout procedures
- Using faulty power tools and cords or operating damaged equipment
- Working too close to overhead power lines without proper precautions
- Direct contact with live electrical equipment, wiring, or transformers
- Workers not wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as insulated gloves or boots
While injuries from electricity can differ in severity, they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Often, another party is liable for electrical hazards.
Struck by an Object
The second-leading cause of severe injury and death for construction workers is struck-by injuries. A struck-by accident occurs when a worker comes into contact with a flying, falling, swinging, or rolling object.
Examples include being struck by:
- A discharged nail from a nail gun
- Overhead materials that become dislodged, such as loose bricks
- Flying debris from striking tools, such as shattered pieces from a hammer impact
- A moving vehicle, such as a truck, forklift, or heavy machinery operating on-site
- Falling objects due to rigging failure, such as unsecured tools falling from heights
- Swinging or shifting equipment, such as a suspended load unexpectedly moving
These accidents can be extremely dangerous, particularly when the object involved is large and very heavy. Struck-by accidents are regularly the result of negligence on the site, and a construction accident lawyer can identify all sources.
Caught-In-Between Accidents
A “caught-in/between accident” occurs when a construction worker is trapped between two heavy pieces of machinery or objects or when clothing or body parts are caught in the moving parts of a machine. Caught-between injuries can also be caused by cave-ins when working in trenches.
These incidents typically result in catastrophic injuries, such as strangulation, amputation, crushing of body parts, or even death. About five percent of construction worker deaths are from employees getting caught in or between machines, devices, tools, or trenches.
Here are some examples of caught-in/between accidents:
- Crushed between a forklift and a warehouse shelving unit
- Pinned under a falling concrete slab during demolition work
- Trapped beneath a collapsed trench during excavation work
- Compressed between a truck and a wall during loading operations
- Loose clothing, dangling accessories, or limbs being pulled into rotating machinery
If you or a loved one sustained injury due to any of these causes, a seasoned construction accident lawyer can identify and explain your legal rights and options.
Injured at Work? Get Help from a Skilled Construction Accident Attorney Today
If you were injured in an accident on a construction site, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, and other accident-related costs. With the help of a dedicated and compassionate personal injury attorney, you can feel confident that your rights will be protected and that you’ll have a strong advocate fighting for your best interests through every step of the process.
Don’t wait; schedule your complimentary case review with Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
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