Construction sites are busy places with a lot of machinery and workers walking around. With all this activity, it’s not a big surprise that the construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in Georgia and throughout the country. Every year, many construction workers fall victim to workplace injuries.
Falls top the list
Taking a quick look at the workers’ compensation claims that are submitted, it becomes clear that falls are the number one reason for workplace injuries on construction sites. Falls can happen from stories up or from just a couple of feet. Either way, they can cause injuries to construction site workers.
Falling objects
It’s not uncommon for cranes to be at the work site to move heavy objects that personnel can’t move alone. Unfortunately, these objects can fall from the crane due to improper strapping or breakage of the crane parts. In addition, it’s not uncommon for workers to drop tools when they’re high up in the air. Due to the distance of the fall, these tools can be dangerous when they fall on construction personnel.
Vehicle accidents
With a large number of vehicles moving on and off a construction site throughout the day, it’s not uncommon for one of these vehicles to hit a worker. In some cases, the worker may just be clipped by the vehicle. However, in other cases, the vehicle might actually run into and pin the worker up against an immovable object like a building or a wall.
Working in the construction industry puts employees at a higher risk for workplace injury than many other industries out there. It’s important for all construction workers to follow workplace safety standards to help reduce the risk of being involved in a workplace accident. Should an accident occur, a construction employee may want an attorney’s help seeking workers’ comp benefits.