Common Risks for Workplace Injuries in the Construction Industry

It is no secret that working in the construction industry involves a certain level of risk of physical harm to the workers. This is because construction workers are tasked with climbing high heights and using high-powered, heavy machinery to do their jobs. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2017, it was reported that, while construction workers only account for 4% of the United States’ workforce, they account for 21% of all reported work-related fatalities.
Furthermore, with respect to non-fatal injuries that occurred in the same year, the National Safety Council reported that 310,000 construction workers throughout the country suffered non-fatal work-related injuries that required medical attention. Because workplace injuries are relatively common among construction workers, it is important that construction workers know what some of the common risks are so that they may take steps to prevent injury from happening to them. In this blog post, we outline some of the most common risks for workplace injuries in the construction industry.

Fall-Related Injuries

In 2015, falling while on the job resulted in the highest amount of all total work-related construction industry deaths at 38.8%. In addition to causing fatalities, construction workers are frequently non-fatally injured when they suffer a fall. The most common risks associated with falling in the construction industry include falling from a ladder or from scaffolding while trying to complete a task. If a fall occurs, the construction worker, depending on the height of the fall and the material of the ground or object on which he falls, may cause a variety of different injuries, including death, broken bones and sprains, joint and bone dislocation, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injuries including partial and full paralysis.

Being Struck by Falling Objects

Because construction involves the building of different structures, including those with different levels of floors, many construction workers may work on a site at a time and on different floor levels. Since this is a relatively common practice and construction involves the use of tools and machinery, it should come as no surprise that falling objects, including debris and construction equipment, may strike a construction worker who is working on a lower floor. If this occurs, the construction worker will likely suffer a traumatic brain injury or death if the object hits the worker in the head. If an object hits one of the worker’s extremities, it could result in broken bones and sprains, bruising and lacerations.

Repetitive Motion Injuries

The construction industry is one that is particularly demanding on the human body. This is because many job tasks require workers to use repeated lifting motions and over movements. While a worker may not be in danger of suffering chronic pain when he or she initially starts the job, overtime, the repetitiveness of the motions the workers use can cause them to suffer chronic back, shoulder, and neck pain. In other cases, lifting heavy objects repetitively may also cause herniated discs in the spine or a hernia of the groin or stomach to develop.

Crushing Injuries

Another risk for workplace injuries for construction workers concern the use of heavy materials and machinery. If a worker is using machinery to construct a structure like a wall and the machinery malfunctions or the worker misuses it, the machinery may very well crush one or more of the worker’s body parts by allowing the structure to fall backwards and onto the worker. Furthermore, sometimes the materials themselves are too heavy for one worker to lift by himself or herself. If a lone worker tries to lift these materials and fails, this material may likely crush one or more the the worker’s body parts depending on where and how the material fell to the ground.

Contact an Edison Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Discuss Your Construction Industry Workplace Injury Case

A workplace accident can be devastating, particularly if it prevents you from returning to work for an extended period of time. Although New Jersey workers’ compensation laws are supposed to provide you with reimbursement for medical expenses and replacement pay for missed time at work, it is not always easy to get the workers’ comp benefits you deserve. That is why you should speak with a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer about your situation and get guidance throughout the claims process. The experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.C. represent construction accident victims in Edison, Point Pleasant, Woodbridge, Freehold, and all across New Jersey. Call 732-564-7165 or email us today to schedule a free consultation about your work injury case. Our main office is located at 1862 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ 08820, and we also have offices in Brick, Freehold, and Point Pleasant, NJ.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.