Construction Workers are out on the job in a variety of conditions and are often exposed to hazardous conditions that can lead to injuries. The CDC reports that 9% of all nonfatal injuries reported in the U.S. are linked to construction-worker injuries.
Due to the sheer variety of construction sites and conditions, relating to anything from weather to traffic, construction workers are exposed to a number of hazards that the average U.S. employee is not. The following are some of the most common construction-site accidents:
Falls account for 22% of all construction worker injuries. Construction workers are at risk of falling off scaffolding, cranes, roofs, ladders, and other heights while on the job. Falls can be very serious, especially in relation to neck and head injuries.
Construction workers are at risk of being struck by objects from above, for example, tools used above the worker or construction materials that aren’t properly secured. Serious injuries, such as brain and spinal injuries can occur, even if you’re wearing appropriate safety equipment such as hardhats.
Heavy machine equipment used on construction sites can fail or put employees in danger of entanglement.
Construction sites often contain hazardous conditions such as exposed wiring, leaking pipes, and flammable chemicals that could lead to fires and explosions. Less common than some other types of accidents, these can, however, be fatal or result in serious injuries.
Due to the hard physical labor required for construction work, employees in this industry often have injuries related to overexertion, including:
Unsafe construction sites and work practices can lead to work exposures to lead. Construction workers represented 16% of elevated blood lead concentration cases in 2002-2008.
From 1990 to 1999, more than 1,000 construction workers died from a chronic dust disease of the lung called pneumoconiosis. The most common pneumoconiosis conditions that have led to death in construction workers are Asbestosis, Coal Workers’ Black Lung, and Silicosis.
Many employees who suffer injuries as a result of construction work are not able to enjoy the activities they previously loved. Some are no longer able to drive as a result of pain or immobility. And still, others are not able to do simple household chores or enjoy time with their children, spouse, or other loved ones. Common injuries include amputation of a finger, toe, or limb, broken bones, burns, lacerations, eye injuries or loss of vision, shoulder, knee, ankle, or back injuries.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of a work-related accident, such as in a factory in the Chicago area, it is important to seek legal counsel from an experienced workers comp lawyer. A brief phone conversation with one of our worker's compensation attorneys or a visit to our Schaumburg office will help you determine whether you have a case and even give an estimate of the potential settlement amount you may be entitled to receive. Iamcallingmylawyer.com only gets paid when you do, so there are no fees or risk to you in regard to attorney costs.
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