Struck by Hazards in Construction: A Very Real Hazard
In the construction
industry, there are some types of accidents that are more common than others,
causing more deaths than any other type of accident. These are known as
“construction’s fatal fours” and eliminating these accidents would save the
lives of 602 workers in America every year. These include falls,
electrocutions, and caught in-between accidents… and struck by falling objects. Today we want to focus on accidents that happen when an
employee is struck by an object, how deadly these accidents can be, and what
can be done within the construction industry to change this.
Accidents: Learn
the Statistics
Each year, many workers die from struck-by accidents.
In the year 2007, for instance, there were a total of 504 struck-by cases, with
311 deaths happening. Approximately 26% of the deaths that occur in
construction happen due to these specific accidents. One of the main risk
factors of these accidents is working or walking below an elevated work
surface, which could make you more prone to being hit by falling objects.
OSHA reports that there are
about 50,000 struck by falling objects incidents reported in a variety of
industries every year, which means that there is one injury caused by a falling
object every 10 minutes! Despite the statistics and the fact that proper safety
equipment could have prevented a wide variety of the injuries and deaths
stemming from these accidents, contractors and companies tend to ignore the
fact that these accidents are happening and the numbers continue to rise.
Injuries: How
These Accidents Can Be Prevented
OSHA and a variety
of workplaces recommend and require their employees to use fall protection
equipment for tools. Here are the rules they recommend following:
- There should always be lanyards and
wristbands to safely hold onto equipment and they should be set in a way
that allows you to use the tool without issue
- You should never have to modify the a tool to effectively attach a protective system to it
- Tools over 5 pounds should be
attached to a fixed structure and used with a tether
OSHA says that tools should always be secured no
matter what, and that hazard warning signs should be posted around a site so
that people do not walk unexpectedly in a dangerous area. In some cases,
workplaces use debris nets and catch platforms to deflect falling objects if
they happen to fall anyway.
When
You Have Been Injured
There are many
reasons why these accidents happen, even if some can be prevented. Sometimes, a
worker could make a simple mistake because of a careless error, or because they
were lacking proper training. Perhaps a contractor improperly set up protective
equipment meant to catch objects when they fall. No matter what, if safety
rules were not abided by and you were struck with an object, you may have
sustained serious injuries. You could suffer concussions, brain injuries, neck
and back injuries, and even paralysis from being hit by an object. You may be
entitled to workers’ compensation benefits or be able to make a claim against a
third party if your employer was not responsible for your injuries. Call us at
the Accident Law Group if you have been
injured by a falling object in the construction workplace and need help with
your case. We are waiting to hear from you today, so give us a call at
602-262-4254.
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