OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is an organization responsible for enforcing health and safety regulations in workplace environments. Employers, employees, and manufacturers are all obligated to follow OSHA guidelines and support comprehensive safety at work. These regulations are set in place to maintain safe workplace environments and prevent serious injuries and fatalities. Workplace accidents can range in severity, from minor wounds to serious life-long injuries or even death. People can lose their lives, their loved ones, or their ability to work or perform naturally in everyday tasks.

As for active construction sites, one of the most common on-the-job accidents is slip and fall accidents, emphasis on the falls. There are two main types of construction site slip and fall accidents. Continue below to learn more about them, plus what you should do as an injured construction worker or laborer in Indiana.

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Important Construction Site Accident Statistics

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that, every single year, 1 out of 10 construction laborers are injured on site. Furthermore, OSHA informs us that falls from great heights are one of the top causes of such accidents. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), every year there are nearly 150,000 construction site accident injuries reported. Of these injuries, fall accidents are one of the primary causes.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1,224 construction workers lost their lives in a construction accident in 2005. They suggest this makes the construction field the most dangerous industry to work in. In the United States, 15% of workers’ compensation costs are paid toward injured construction laborers who were hurt on the job.

Reasons For Construction Site Slip and Fall Accidents

Active construction sites are innately more vulnerable to the risk of slip and fall accidents due to negligent persons and companies, inclement weather conditions, dispersed construction equipment and machinery, production debris, great heights, and more. Although it goes without saying, the higher up a slip and fall incident happens, the more severe the injuries. At extreme heights, a slip and fall accident can mean instant death.

Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents on construction sites include inadequate safety training and equipment, loosened or broken handrailing, defective scaffolding, exposed electrical cords and cables, and surfaces that are uneven, wet, or slippery.

2 Primary Types of Fall Accidents on Construction Sites

Various slip and fall accidents can take place at a construction site, but the two primary types include same-level falls and falls from one level to a lower level. Same-level falls are best described as slip, trip, and fall accidents. These take place on ground level, or on a single level in which the fall does not cause the victim to drop to a lower level of the construction site. An example of the same-level fall at a construction site would be tripping over exposed electrical wiring and falling to the ground, resulting in a broken ankle and dislocated shoulder. This does not mean that a same -level fall cannot result in catastrophic injuries or death. They do, as the statistics above suggest.

Falling to a lower level typically results in more serious workplace injuries, and in some cases construction fatalities. Compared to same level falls, falling from one level to a lower level increases the chances of catastrophic injuries or deaths.

Falling in Man-Made Holes

Holes are also a common cause of accidents on construction sites. People, both workers and regular citizens, have literally fallen victim to unmarked or unguarded holes, trenches, and other deep cavities dug into the ground.

Guidance for Injured Construction Workers

If you are a construction worker, or an employee in any industry for that matter, who has been injured on the job or while performing work-related duties, it is in your best interest to consult with a licensed Indiana personal injury lawyer to learn your rights to pursuing legal action and obtaining the maximum compensation for your damages and losses.

Would you like to speak with a trusted workers’ compensation lawyer without any financial obligation? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your construction accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana with an experienced workplace injury attorney. We represent workers throughout Indiana and Indiana citizens injured anywhere, plus we can meet over the phone, via video conference (Zoom, Skype, etc.), or in person at our Indy-based office.

Construction Site Fatalities

One of the most frightening accidents that can happen to a construction worker is falling from a high locale. This is a common threat due to the use of scaffolding, ladders, roof-work, crane-work, slips, trips, and more. Nearly 40% of all construction staff deaths each year are caused from falls. Scaffolding can collapse, and workers can lose their balance from high above. Poor quality equipment, slippery surfaces, unprotected edges, incomplete or unstable flooring, holes in floors, misuse of ladders are all common culprits behind falling accidents. Unfortunately, most construction site fall accidents are fatal; or they cause permanent paralysis or brain injuries.

Electrocutions are also a common cause of death at a construction site. Damaged connections, exposed wires, and more can all cause a fatal surge of electricity to anyone. In fact, a surge from as little as 20 milliamps can be fatal. Almost ten percent of construction deaths are caused by electrocutions. And if death does not occur, severe third and fourth degree burns commonly leave victims with prolonged pain, discomfort, and disfigurement.

Being hit by a heavy object accounts for nearly eight percent of construction site deaths each year. Heavy machinery, construction equipment, and falling objects are the most frequent causes of death when it comes to being struck by something. Many things are moved with the use of cranes, forklifts, bulldozers, and more; so sometimes, things go wrong and negligence can cause a fatal accident. Something as insignificant as a wrench that falls from a 400 foot scaffold can cause death to anyone it strikes. Bricks, tools, lunch boxes, and even cell phones can all be deadly hazards depending on where they fall from and the force they have when coming in contact with a person.

Lastly, getting caught or stuck in between is another gut-wrenching and fatal accident that can happen at a construction lot. Rotating equipment, rigging, equipment maintenance, trash crushers, and more can all cause a person severe injury or death if caught underneath or in between. All construction companies and contractors are responsible for setting forth proper safety training and education to protect their employees and prevent such accidents from happening. If a person is crushed, ran over, or killed as a result of being stuck or caught in between, various safety regulations are violated and the company owners are held accountable. This is where a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits can help.

If a person is severely injured on the job, they have a right to pursue a lawsuit against the negligent parties and be entitled to remuneration for their damages. If a person is killed as a result of a company’s negligence, the victim’s family has a legal right to pursue compensation through a personal injury wrongful death lawsuit. It is important to hire a licensed and reputable Indianapolis Construction Site Accident attorney for effective representation.

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The Two Main Types of Construction Site Slip and Fall Accidents