Once you know and understand the most common causes of injury, you can do your best to avoid them.
There are many good reasons to work in the construction industry, but unfortunately, they come with a cost. That cost is the risk of injury, which is higher than many professions. This does not mean you should avoid construction jobs entirely, though. Instead, you should understand the most common injury causes and keep your eye out for them. If you are ever injured, it’s a good idea to talk to a St. Louis work injury lawyer about obtaining workers compensation benefits. Of course, it is better that you never sustain an injury at all. You can increase your odds of avoidance by reading and applying the information below.
Falls From Significant Height
Not only are falls the most common type of injury on construction sites, they are also the deadliest. The reason for this is twofold. First, the falls that construction workers experience are usually higher than any other profession. If you work in a restaurant, you are at risk to slip and fall from only ground level. In construction, that often happens on scaffolding, which puts you many feet in the air. The second reason is that there are often many objects lying around the site. Whether that is building materials or machinery, you are at risk of tripping over them and into them if you are not careful.
Falling Objects
Another way construction workers sustain injuries is getting hit by falling objects. While some construction sites are solely at ground level, many of them involve a multi-story building or machinery that raises materials above eye level. The result is falling objects, which pick up speed very quickly. When they hit you, their speed and weight can combine to be incredibly dangerous.
Electrocutions
When a new building is being erected, the electrical situation is often not worked out yet. Additionally, many types of machinery hold a significant charge. Each of these factors leads to electrocutions, which can be deadly.
Tripping
Though these accidents are not as dangerous as falling from a significant height, they still can have severe health consequences. Falls often lead to soft tissue injuries, cuts, and scrapes, all of which may be enough to warrant compensation. What makes tripping even more dangerous is the material that is lying around on the site. If you trip and fall into something sharp, your injury has the potential to be even more damaging.
Equipment
When you use heavy machinery, there is always risk involved. The tools you use on a construction site need to be powerful enough to destroy and build structures, so they are definitely powerful enough to injure you.
Vehicles
Many construction sites involve vehicles constantly driving around to carry out various functions. Though the drivers of them are usually careful, you should watch out for them too.
Once you know and understand the most common causes of injury, you can do your best to avoid them. Still, no matter how careful you are, you could sustain an injury on the job. If this is the case, it is wise to speak with a St. Louis workers compensation lawyer right away. With their assistance, you can significantly improve your situation by obtaining the compensation you are legally entitled to for your injuries.