Types of Construction Accidents

An overview of the types of Construction Site Accidents and their legal implications. The types include construction falls, welding accidents, scaffolding accidents, electrocution, and trench accidents, all of which are governed by different legal precedents.

Construction Site Falls · Welding Accidents and Injuries · Construction Site Electrocution · Scaffolding Accidents and Injuries · Trench Accidents · Crane Accidents · Construction Equipment Accidents

Construction Site Falls

Construction Site Falls are a very common type of Construction Accident. The types of Construction Falls are numerous, including:

Scaffolding falls Falls into ditches Falls through flooring Falls off of cranes and lifts Elevator shaft Falls

In most cases, basic safety precautions on the part of the construction site owner, contractor, or design professional could eliminate these types of falls and injuries. The causes of Construction Site Falls are also numerous, due to the inherent danger of a construction site. Common causes of construcion site falls, which could be prevented, include:

Unsafe ladders Holes in flooring Improper or insufficient safety equipment Dangerous debris and materials Unmarked or unprotected ledges

If you are a construction worker, you should report all unsafe situations, such as these listed. For your own safety, insist that something be done about any dangerous condition on a construction site.

A quick look at the types and causes of Construction Site Falls clearly indicates that common sense and basic preventative measures are the best ways to avoid falls. This is especially true with smaller jobs, where safety precautions are sometimes disregarded. Holes, ditches, and other dangerous areas should be marked first.

Construction workers should maintain three points of contact with ladders at all times. Disregarding safety guidelines on ladders is highly imprudent and is the cause of numerous falls on construction sites each year.

Finally, adhering to OSHA scaffold regulations is necessary and helps to eliminate construction falls. The guidelines are both strict and explicit, and they include detailed guidelines for the construction, use, strength, safety precautions, and regulation of scaffolds. OSHA also provides guidelines and standards to aid in the elimination of construction falls in general.

Welding Accidents and Injuries

Weling Accidents and Injuries are another common type of construction accident. There are nearly half a million construction workers who practice weling, cutting, and brazing. The task is necessary, but is very dangerous, and while most welding accident are not fatal, many result in serious injury and disfigurement. There are numerous laws which govern welding, and those which require the use of personal protective equipement are particularly important.

Types of Welding Injuries include dangerous exposure ultraviolet radiation (UV), exposure to infrared radiation (IR), exposure to intense visible light, and the ingestion of metal fumes, which can damage the respiratory system.

OSHA welding regulations are on their website. They provide their standards for each industry, an analysis of the hazards, solutions, and further information concerning health and safety.

Construction Site Electrocution

Construction electrocution accidents and injuries are a serious risk on any worksite. These can harm both electricians and non-electricians on the job site. OSHA provides their electrical safety standards, as well as other information about electrical work, hazards, and precautions, on their website, www.osha.gov.

Unfortunately, the majority of electrocutions occur because contractors and workers disregard the danger posed by “live” electrical wires. Furthermore, construction electrical injuries are usually result from incidental contact with overhead wires, rather than from direct work with the electrical wires themselves. Construction equipment, such as cranes, excavators, dump trucks, ladders, and scaffolds, may accidently come in contact with live overhead wires, resulting in the injury or death of those using the equipment.

The law requires that contractors know the location of both overhead and buried electrical lines, and that they warn their workers of these. Electrical lines that may pose a hazard to construction workers be either moved, insulated, or turned off before work begins. Contractors should contact the appropriate utility company before beginning work, so that they can provide the location of electrical lines and aid the contractors in ensuring safety.

Basic safety precautions aid in reducing construction site electrocutions. These include:

For Contractors:

Know and adhere to all OSHA regulations (both regarding electrical safety and otherwise) Provide electrical safety training for construction workers Contact utility companies before construction Do not permit work with live wires unless de-energizing is impractical or unsafe Do not permit work with live wires unless safety procedures are followed

For Electrical Workers:

Always be certain that the electrical lines you are working with and near are not live Unless qualified, do not work with live wires Unless there is a clear permit system, do not work with live wires Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) Never work without the proper tools

For Non-Electrical Construction Workers:

Demand the relevant electrical safety training Ensure that construction equipment and machines are insulated or grounded Inspect power and extension cords for wear and tear on a regular basis (replacing as needed) ALWAYS unplug equipment, machines, and tools before performing any inspection or repair work Be certain that you know the location of electrical wires on the construction site Maintain a safety distance of 10 feet from overhead electrical wires Never allow metal objects near sources of live electricity

Scaffolding Accidents and Injuries

Construction sites are obviously dangerous places and require adherence to stringent safety regulations to ensure the workers are free from accident and injury. Unfortunately, scaffolding accidents and injuries are one of the primary reasons that construction sites are so dangerous. Due to their frequency, and because they are often preventable, scaffolding accidents are a category of construction site injury that is completely separate from common construction site falls, and they are governed by a seperate, specific, and stringent set of laws.

Amazingly, nearly 1 on 5 construction site injuries are due to scaffold accidents. Despite strict regulation on the part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), scaffolding accidents occur primarily due to negligence in the construction and maintenance of scaffolding. An experienced construction lawyer is necessary to file a claim due to a scaffolding accident, because of the extensive laws and legal precedents surrounding the issue.

Trench Accidents

Trench accidents and collapses are a particularly hossible types of construction accident. This is partially because trenching and excavation are very dangerous operations. When something goes wrong, trenching can result in the crushing or suffocation of construction workers. This usually occurs in the event of a trench collapse.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides guidelines for the proper and safe digging and maintenance of trenches. These trench regulations aim at minimizing the risk of collapse.

The causes of Trench Collapses include the weight of a nearby machine, soil shifting due to rain, improper preparation or maintenance of the trench, etc. Trenches should be inspected daily for signs of a collapse. Other dangers associated with trenching include underground gas and electrical lines, which can injure or kill workers if proper safety precautions are not taken by construction site owners, contractors, and design professionals.

Crane Accidents

Crane Accidents are a cause of serious injury and death on construction sites. The causes of Crane Accident are numerous, and many could be prevented if proper safety measures were taken and safety regulations were followed. The Occupational Safety and Heath Administration (OSHA) indicates that the primary causes of Construction Crane Accidents include:

Boom or crane contact with energized power lines (almost half of crane accidents) Under the hook lifting device Overturned cranes Dropped loads Boom collapse Crushing by the counter weight Crushing by the counter weight Falls Rigging failures

There are nearly 100,000 crane in use on construction sites in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 80 construction workers die every year due to crane accidents and crane related accidents. Beyond this, hundreds are injured and serious harmed in crane accidents on construction sites. Many more construction workers are seriously injured as a result of crane accidents and collapses. And it's not just construction workers who fall victim to crane accidents. Bystanders and passersby also are being injured and killed at an alarming rate by crane accidents. If you are injured due to a crane accident, it is essential to hire a construction lawyer who is experienced with crane accidents knows the applicable laws, both OSHA Crane Standards and the relevant state laws.

Construction Equipment Accidents

Construction workers are at constant risk, not simply because they work in close proximity to electrical wires or the danger of falls, but also because of the presence of heavy equipment. Heavy Construction Equipment, including cranes, backhoes, bulldozers, skid steer loaders, and front end loaders, cause thousands of injuries on construction sites every year. Most of these accidents and injuries are preventable, and are due to negligence, including manufacturing flaws, lack of instruction or warning, inadequate supervision by the construction company, or defects in the premises, which are the responsibility of the construction site owner or the general contractor.

All content on Accidents.com is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as legal or medical advice. Please seek advice from a professional on any related topics.

Tags: Construction Accidents · Legal Help · Work Accidents