Construction is one of the most dangerous jobs to work in because of the high-risk factors that workers have to do their job in. The majority of the time though, they are so easily avoided. Working on a construction site should always be a safe operation, however, when people make small mistakes, it can lead to terrible consequences. 

People can get hurt, or worse be killed due to someone’s negligence (e.g. by not following safety regulations). When things like this happen, it’s important for the victim or the victim’s family to get in touch with a lawyer like these construction accident lawyers Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff to help get them any compensation that they deserve. Below you will find three common construction accidents, and how they can be easily avoided. 

Falls from Heights

This is an incredibly common accident when working on a construction site, due to the fact that a lot of construction work is carried out at lofty heights. Builders fall off scaffolding for a number of reasons, the main one because of a lack of guardrails in the first place. Builders might also fall off from unsecured ladders as well. If the ladder is overlearning or set up in an unsafe area, then this can be really dangerous. 

These types of falls can cause people to experience broken bones, fractures, back and injuries. In worst case scenarios, it can even lead to death. Proper fall protection isn’t always in place at construction sites. However, it’s up to the employers to protect their workers and contractors on the job. They need to invest in things like harnesses, adding toe rails, installing handrails and personal protective gear. 

Falling Objects

On a construction site, there are so many falling objects such as tools, materials and debris that can pose a very dangerous risk for people. Sometimes things like tools, bricks or spare parts are often transferred between tiers of scaffolding meaning that there is a higher chance of one of these things being dropped, particularly if communication is poor. Items can be dropped from above without advance warning and you won’t have a lot of time to move out of the way.

These injuries can vary from things like minor cuts and bruises, to more major ones like head or brain injuries. The constant risk of falling objects is the reason why hard hats are required on building sites. To help prevent objects falling off without warning, safety nets should be installed as they will catch falling debris, meaning that people won’t be hit by falling objects without warning.  

Tripping Hazards

Another common accident that occurs on construction sites is tripping hazards. Slips, trips and falls occur all the time on construction sites, due to workers easily tripping over loose cables or even falling into holes in the ground that haven’t been properly signed or cordoned off properly. The resulting accidents can vary depending on the person, how they fell, how they landed etc…

These are just three of the most common construction accidents, however, there are plenty of other accidents that occur on constructions sites. When it comes to accidents though, the best way to prevent them is to inspect the site first and point out any various hazards before any work gets started. This will aid your risk assessment and help you create a list for preventive measures. You should also make sure to make your team aware of these hazards. If you, or your workers are interested in learning more about how to stay safe at work, then you can check out this article here.