What Are the Most Common Types of Construction Site Accidents?

Construction jobs carry many risks. Workers are regularly in conditions that can lead to serious injury and even fatalities. With more than 300,000 nonfatal injuries and illnesses and roughly 5,000 deaths for construction workers on the job annually, there are several ways in which construction accidents can occur.

Many construction accidents are the result of falls. Construction workers routinely work on scaffolding, roofs, ladders, cranes, and other heights. While a fall from a short distance may not cause much injury, greater heights can easily lead to life-changing injuries.

When working on a project, a construction worker may routinely handle powerful equipment or even electrical components that are part of the installation. Malfunctions and improper handling of these products can lead to exposure to high voltage currents, which can cause severe burns. Some burns may not be extensive, but higher degrees of damage can cause disfigurement and even put the worker at a risk of infection and other medical complications.

Besides the risk of falling themselves, construction workers also need to be aware of falling objects in the workplace. Even something as small as a wrench can cause serious damage when falling from a great height. Tools and improperly secured materials can lead to broken bones, concussions, brain damage, and spinal injuries, even when workers are using safety equipment.

If a construction project involves chemicals in the area, that chemical may spill. Depending on the substance, workers can suffer damages when touching the chemical and/or breathing in any toxic fumes.

Construction workers routinely work with dangerous equipment. Heavy machines like cranes can fail, trapping workers or even dropping people or objects from great heights. Handheld equipment is also a risk, such as a nail gun misfiring and damaging the user or another worker.

Improper construction, inclement weather, building demolition, and other errors can cause an in-progress structure to collapse. This type of accident is dangerous for any workers that are on the structure at the time of collapse, as they can suffer a fall or become trapped between debris, and for anyone near the structure, who can also be caught in the fall.

Construction sites see many vehicles coming and going daily. While these vehicles are essential for bringing in needed parts and equipment, they can also create great risks. If a truck driver isn’t aware of the surroundings or a supervisor doesn’t properly control a worksite, a construction worker may suffer damages by becoming caught between large vehicles or even run over as the trucks back out of the site.

Exposed wiring, flammable chemicals, and leaking pipes are often at construction sites. These items create a risk for fires and explosions, which can cause extensive damage to workers in the form of burns, oxygen deprivation due to inhaling smoke, broken bones when caught in collapsing debris, and other forms of serious or potentially fatal injuries.

Trenches can run the risk of collapsing as workers build them. When these accidents happen, it’s often without warning, making it difficult for workers to prepare themselves. Those caught in a collapse are at risk for serious injury or death due to the weight of the collapsed area.

Construction workers often work long hours in difficult conditions. When working during the day, temperatures rise and put workers at risk for heat stroke and stress, which can lead to kidney, heart, and brain damages. Overexertion can also have detrimental effects on the worker’s health. In some cases, both of these conditions can lead to death.

Even the most prepared of construction sites and workers can still experience accidents. Because these are workplace incidences, an injured individual may be eligible for worker’s compensation. Receiving proper medical care and consulting an attorney shortly after an accident can help make a successful claim.

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