If you work on a construction site, you face a lot of hazards. You may have to use power tools or heavy machinery, for instance. You may work at heights and always be worried that you’re going to slip and fall.
These are certainly valid concerns, but one other thing to think about is being struck by another object. This can be incredibly dangerous, leading to many fatal accidents. Even those who survive would have suffered serious head injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries.
How often does this happen?
This is much more common than people assume. In fact, construction has a well-known Fatal Four which consists of falls, workers being struck by objects, electrocutions and workers getting caught in between pieces of equipment. As you can see from this list, workers being struck by objects is the second-most common reason for fatal accidents. It accounts for 10% of the total. This is much less than 36% accounted for by falls, but greater than everything else, including electrocutions, at just 9%.
Why does it happen?
One reason that this happens is because workers on upper levels of a structure are simply being careless or negligent. For example, a roofing crew may fail to strap down some of their materials and equipment, which could slide off of the roof and strike a worker who is on the ground below the house.
It can also happen if there are problems with the build itself. For instance, a construction crew that is building interior stud walls may rush through the job and not secure one of the walls properly. When the stud wall tips and falls, it could strike a worker who is not even participating in that specific task at that time. This is just one example, but there are many problems that could occur, from falling ceiling tiles to light fixtures.
What can you do?
You can see just how serious these issues are and how often they occur. But what do you do if you get injured on the job? That’s when you need to know about all of your legal options. You may be able to pursue a workers’ compensation claim so that you can get paid while you heal and to help cover your medical bills.
