Construction Workers More at Risk for Serious Injuries
A construction worker recently died in a tragic accident at a Georgia college, demonstrating the extraordinary dangers construction workers face every day on the job.
Tragic Construction Accident
A 32-year-old construction worker from Florida was helping build the new Campus Center at the College of Coastal Georgia when he fell from a ladder, sustaining fatal injuries. The Florida Times-Union reports that the initial investigation revealed that the man, an employee of a subcontractor at the construction site, was on the ladder to turn on a piece of equipment.
While no one saw the accident, Glynn County Coroner Jimmy Durden said the man might have fallen from the ladder after receiving an electric shock. According to Durden, “Somebody heard a loud popping sound,” then the man fell, “breaking several rungs of the ladder.”
While this tragic fall was the first serious accident to happen since construction began on the $12 million building, construction workers face higher risks of injury at work. Even more troubling, on-the-job injuries suffered by construction workers are typically much more severe than work-related injuries in other industries or occupations.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction accidents cause more than 1,000 deaths and more than 400,000 each year in the U.S. Data also shows that one out of 10 construction workers is injured on the job every year.
Construction Site Safety Hazards
Many potential safety hazards are common features of construction sites, including:
- Cranes, bulldozers and other heavy equipment
- Scaffolding and ladders
- Temporary flooring and ceilings
- Uneven ground levels
- Power tools, including nail guns and power saws
Some of the severe injuries that may result from construction accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Brain injuries
- Burns
- Electrocution
- Loss of hearing or vision
- Loss of limbs or extremities
Construction workers injured in work accidents may be able to obtain compensation for their injuries and lost wages through various legal proceedings. It is possible to make a claim through workers’ compensation, and construction workers also may be able to make third-party claims in personal-injury lawsuits against other construction workers, equipment manufacturers or inspection companies whose negligence led to the injury.
If another construction company or worker failed to act with due caution and care for the circumstances, causing serious injury as a result, the at-fault party may be ordered to pay damages to the injured construction worker to compensate him or her for injuries, medical expenses and lost wages. If you have been injured at a construction site, contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to discuss any legal claims you may have.