People who work in the construction industry face risk every day. Whether working on road construction, residential buildings or urban skyscrapers, there are many factors that can result in injury or death.
There are certain injuries that are more common than others, and these can lead to additional long-term medical conditions.
Types of injuries
According to the Insurance Journal, eye injuries occur frequently in the construction industry. Accidents involving material handling cause around 40% of injuries. These often include sprains or strains and inflammation. Falling from a high location is another common cause of injuries in construction. Associated injuries include fractures and contusions.
FindLaw reports that along with a worker falling, an object falling from above also leads to injuries of the brain and spine. Due to the physical nature and outdoor environment of the job, many workers suffer from conditions such as repetitive motion injuries, overuse injuries, hypothermia and heat stress.
Injuries can lead to medical conditions
Some of the injuries that workers suffer from heal after a certain amount of time. However, some of the injuries can result in chronic conditions or issues that are more serious. These include
- Vision loss from eye injuries
- Paralysis from spinal cord injuries
- Respiratory disease from exposure to certain materials
- Kidney or heart damage due to heat stress
- Loss of toes or fingers from frostbite
- Post-traumatic stress disorder from experiencing or observing a tragic accident
Although working in construction is dangerous, employers should provide safety and preventive measures. Depending on the cause of, and type of, the injury, there is often legal recourse that the injured worker can take.
