What Are the Most Common Types of Construction Accidents?

Construction is an essential industry but also a dangerous one. Construction regularly accounts for most workplace injuries and fatalities per capita each year. Below, we discuss some of the most common construction site injuries. Call a zealous New York construction accident attorney if you or a family member has been injured on a construction site in the Hudson Valley.

Slips, trips, and falls

Slip-and-fall accidents are a leading cause of injury and fatality across all industries, both at the workplace and at home. On construction sites, the risks are even greater. There may be any number of liquids or chemicals spilled, loose wires ready for tripping, or discarded tools and materials for an unaware worker to stub their toe on. Slipping and falling on a construction site can lead to a worker striking their head on a hard surface, falling off scaffolding, or falling right into a piece of heavy machinery.

Struck by flying, rolling, or falling objects

There are a lot of moving parts on any construction site. Whenever an object is not properly secured, or whenever someone accidentally drops a tool, a brick, or any other piece of equipment or material, a serious accident is possible. Construction involves work at different levels, and a dropped wrench from three stories up can quickly become a deadly hazard, as can a log rolling down a hill or dropping from a crane.

Caught in-between

Even when materials do not strike a worker directly, they can lead to a worker getting trapped between a heavy object and a wall or some other surface. Many workers get stuck in-between surfaces and materials or equipment, leading to crushed limbs, broken ribs, and cut-off oxygen.

Electrocution

Construction sites are, by definition, a work in progress. There are likely to be exposed wires and other electrical equipment scattered around. Without proper safety measures and practices in place, workers can easily come into contact with direct sources of electricity and experience electrocution or shock.

Vehicle accidents

Construction workers are often tasked with carrying workers, materials, or equipment from one location to another, either on the site or to and from different locations. Car crashes are as common when ferrying construction materials as they are at any other time. Moreover, many construction workers are injured by civilian vehicles traveling nearby or through construction sites without obeying the slower speed limits and safety protocols, especially on construction sites near highways or other busy thoroughfares.

Falls from heights

In addition to the typical risks of slipping and falling, many construction workers face a constant risk of falling from an elevated level. Whether working on roofing, scaffolds, or ladders, any miscalculation, worn-out piece of equipment, or simple bad luck can send a worker tumbling down several stories. Falls from high places cause as many as 35% of all construction site injuries.

Overexertion and overwork injuries

Not all construction injuries involve a sudden impact. Construction workers put significant strain on their bodies day-in and day-out. Constant hard labor, especially in hot weather, can lead to heatstroke, exhaustion, and other dangerous conditions. Additionally, regular lifting, twisting, climbing, and carrying can cause sprains, strains, and other long-term shoulder, neck, or back conditions.

If you or someone you love has been hurt or killed on a construction site in New York, find out if you have a right to compensation by contacting the dedicated and professional Hudson Valley personal injury lawyers at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP for a free consultation at 845-331-4100 (Kingston) or 845-236-4411 (Marlboro).