Hard Hats and Hazards: How to Protect Yourself from Injury on a Construction Site
Construction sites are essential for building our infrastructure. But they can also be hazardous, leading to injuries with potentially devastating consequences for workers. Understanding safety measures is crucial to ensuring everyone goes home safely at the end of the day. Unfortunately, accidents can happen, often with horrible results. If you suffered a construction site injury due to someone’s negligence, Sand Law may be able to help you obtain compensation. Please call or contact us online for a free evaluation of your case. Statistics On Construction Site Injuries There were 1,008 construction deaths and 169,200 injuries in 2021. Construction deaths made up nearly 20% of all workplace fatalities that year. The most common causes of construction deaths are slips, trips, and falls. These accidents accounted for more than 35% of fatalities in the construction industry in 2021. Other common accidents on construction sites include the following: Falling objects (16.7% of construction injuries in 2020) Overexertion injuries (15%) Incidents involving worksite vehicles (12%) Harmful substance exposure (5%) The Importance Of Hard Hats & Other Safety Equipment Hard hats and other safety equipment are your first line of defense against potentially life-threatening accidents on a construction site. These critical pieces of gear are...
Most Common Hazards on Construction Sites
Construction sites are dynamic environments where various hazards can pose risks to the safety and well-being of workers. The slightest mistake or lack of focus can have devastating consequences. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 18 construction workers died in Minnesota in 2021. If you’ve suffered a severe injury due to a construction accident, please contact Sand Law as soon as possible. We can help if you’re having issues with a worker’s compensation claim or if you’re considering legal action against a third party that contributed to your injury. Schedule a free consultation by using our online form or calling 651-291-7263. Slips, Trips, And Falls Slips, trips, and falls are some of the leading causes of injuries on construction sites. They can occur due to uneven surfaces, wet or slippery floors, cluttered walkways, or inadequate lighting. Construction workers may also encounter hazards such as loose debris, cables, or tools left in their path. To prevent slips, trips, and falls, employers and workers must do the following: Maintain clean work areas. Remove obstacles. Provide adequate lighting. Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like non-slip footwear. Working At Height Falls are always a considerable risk at any construction site. They’re...
Workplace Fatalities: Common Injuries by Industry
Workplace Injuries Can Range From Minor To Fatal. Some Industries Are More Prone To Fatal Injuries Than Others. Day after day, employees work their shifts and expect to return home safely to their families. While most work spaces are very safe environments, there are some locations and careers that are naturally more dangerous than others. Employers and workers alike should be taking extra measures to prevent accidents. Unfortunately, they can fall short, and the worst can happen. Over 5,000 people a year die from workplace related accidents. Workplace Deaths By Injury The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has guidelines for virtually every industry. When they’re not followed, a variety of accidents can happen as a result. These may include: Slips And Falls A clean work space is not just a superficial facet. It can also prevent injuries. When work spaces are cluttered with tools or materials, workers are most prone to tripping. Slippery surfaces and unsecured ladders are also common catalysts for slip-and-fall accidents. Many people associate these types of falls with relatively minor injuries like broken bones or sprains. However, at various work sites, a fall can throw an employee from a dangerous height. Workers can sustain traumatic...
Why Construction Accidents Are So Common and How to Prevent Them
Construction Workers Are At A Higher Risk For Injuries On The Job, Including Even Fatal Injuries. Members of the workforce know that all careers come with their own set of drawbacks. Without a doubt, some are inherently more dangerous than others. Construction workers spend their days using heavy tools and machinery, often at intimidating heights. Accidents can happen at any moment. In fact, one in five workplace fatalities in the private sector come from the construction industry. If you’re in this line of work, you may have even witnessed some of the most common accidents in motion. However, they don’t have to be an inevitable part of the job. Learning more about how they happen can help you to recognize and avoid surrounding dangers. What Causes Construction Accidents? There are so many moving parts on construction sites. Therefore, it can be complicated to pinpoint the cause of an accident. Human error, a lack of adequate equipment, or a combination of the two is often to blame. Additionally, there are only a handful of types of accidents that recur as a result of the most common causes. Falls Recent research showed that over the course of a year, almost 34% of...
Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Checklist
The following checklist is for employers and supervisors and outlines how they should document any kind of work-related injuries or illnesses for workers’ compensation purposes. It’s crucial that these steps be taken as soon as possible in the event of any kind of medical emergency or serious injuries. Here are the immediate actions every employer must go through in terms of adequately reporting an employee’s injury: Provide the employee with a Workers’ Compensation Information and Privacy Statement form and have them review and sign it. Provide the employee with an Employee Statement regarding injury/illness/incident form and have them fill out the statement as soon as they can, no later than 24 hours. Complete Incident/Injury/Illness Data Form with the employee and then submit the form to a Workers’ Compensation Coordinator no later than 24 hours. Complete the Agency Claims Investigation form and submit it to a Workers’ Compensation Coordinator no later than 24 hours. Provide the employee with a Workers’ Compensation Employee Information Packet and review the documents to ensure the employee clearly understands the process. Provide the employee with a temporary CorVel RX First Fill pharmacy card that they can take to their first doctor appointment. Inform the employee about...