Construction site accidents are common in the United States. Each year, thousands of people sustain serious injuries on the job.
The truth, however, is that many of these accidents are avoidable. According to the United States Department of Labor, there are more than 6.5 million construction workers employed across the country, and there are steps every one of them can take to increase their safety at work.
How a Personal-Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you are suffering from injuries sustained at a construction site, a Seattle personal-injury attorney may be able to help. Richard McKinney Law is a law firm with more than 40 years of experience in the personal-injury field, and we have helped countless clients file claims against negligent businesses and individuals. Call us today at 844-933-1605 to schedule an appointment.
Here are five of the most common construction site hazards:
- Scaffolding
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the US Department of Labor, claims that scaffolding accidents are among the most common across the United States. They typically occur when workers do not erect the scaffolds correctly or do not use them in the proper manner. OSHA claims that scaffolding injures up to 4,500 people on construction sites each year.
- Falling
Each year, thousands of people fall at construction sites for a range of different reasons, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These include unstable ground and working surfaces, faulty or incorrectly used safety equipment and simple human error.
- Stairs
Stairs are a common source of serious workplace and construction site injuries, and they can even cause a problem in a controlled environment. Serious falls on stairways are often due to hazards and obstacles in the way or slippery and uneven surfaces. In many situations, there is a degree of negligence behind stair-related accidents.
- Ladders
Though necessary on construction sites, ladders are particularly hazardous, according to OSHA. They estimate that nearly 25,000 people sustain injuries and close to 40 die in ladder accidents every year. Most of these injuries are minor, but 50 percent of them force the victim to take time off work.
- Trenches
Trenches are a common source of serious injuries and fatalities on construction sites. These are primarily an issue when they collapse, and the result is often catastrophic. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has strict guidelines for sloping and soil type to avoid serious trench collapses, but working with trenches carries a number of unavoidable risks, as well.
If you sustained construction site injuries, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately. It may also benefit you to consult a Seattle personal-injury lawyer. An experienced lawyer can evaluate your injuries and your claim and determine if you have a right to compensation for medical bills or lost wages.
Do not assume that you have to deal with the consequences of a work injury on your own. Richard McKinney Law has more than 40 years of personal-injury law experience, and we can use our expertise to help you file a claim against any negligent parties. Call us today at 844-933-1605 to schedule an appointment.
