Accidents at construction sites are, unfortunately, common occurrences across the U.S. The Department of Labor estimates that more than 150,000 construction-related injury accidents happen every year. Due to the nature of their trade, construction workers find themselves confronted by dangerous, unsafe work conditions sometimes on a daily basis. Serious injuries from construction site accidents occur with alarming frequency throughout the U.S. and Florida.
The types of accidents that can happen on construction sites range from ones resulting in a few scratches and bruises to broken bones, burn injuries, brain injury, spinal cord injury and paralysis, accidental amputation and wrongful death. Some of the most-often reported types of construction accidents include:
– Crane accidents
– Falling object accidents
– Slip and fall accidents
– Explosions and on-site fires
– Welding accidents
– Flooring hole accidents
– Toxic material accidents
– Heavy equipment accidents
– Bulldozer, forklift and other construction vehicle accidents
– Trench collapse accidents
– Scaffolding, ladder or roofing accidents
– Electrical shock accidents
– Boiler accidents
– Power tool accidents
– Derrick accidents
– Compressor accidents
– Building/structure collapse accidents
For many of these incidents, ineffective safety measures, negligent workers or site supervisors, inadequate use of caution signs, or defective safety or operating equipment may be to blame. Other causes include:
•Falls due to improperly assembled scaffolding, unsafe ladders, holes in flooring, etc.
•Equipment accidents and defective machinery such as power tools, improperly guarded machines, crane accidents, forklifts, etc.
•Electrocution
•Exposure to toxic fumes
•Vehicle accidents
•Highway work zone accidents
The number of accidents are not surprising, of course. Construction is an industry full of many different kinds of hazards, including scaffolding and other high-off-the-ground structures; heavy equipment, machinery and materials; dangerous power tools like saws; potentially toxic and explosive chemicals; excessive noise; and large amounts of activity going on all at once.
Construction Accident Statistics According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
– Out of every 10 construction industry employees, at least 1 will report an injury annually.
– At least 1,000 construction workers are killed every year on-site.
– A typical construction site injury will result in more than 30 days of missed work for one individual.
– Younger construction workers, under the age of 35, have a higher incidence of injury.
– Injuries to the back and ribs are the most common injuries reported.
– Thirty (30) percent of all construction deaths are related to workers falling from roofs, scaffolds and other high positions.
Typically, construction workers who are injured on the job can receive Workers’ Compensation benefits. In addition, an injured worker may also be able to receive compensation from a responsible party that is not the employer. For instance, if defective equipment caused the accident, the equipment manufacturer may be held liable for the victim’s injuries.
