The Construction Industry Is The Most Dangerous Occupation For U.S. Workers

When a worker is injured due to dangerous conditions on a construction site because of poor safety standards and/or poorly maintained equipment, the consequences can be disastrous. The best way to avoid onsite accidents is through safety training and education, but when construction company operators fail to follow the Occupational and Safety Health Administration’s (OSHA) standards, dangerous conditions prevail.

Construction Site Non-fatal Injuries

The National Safety Council reported that construction workers suffered 71,730 non-fatal injuries in a recent year. Safety+Health Magazine reports that over a 45-year career in construction, workers have a 75 percent increase in suffering a disabling injury.

The “Fatal Four”—Death By Employment

The U.S. Department of Labor reported that out of 4,674 United States private-sector employee fatalities in a recent year, 971 or 20.7% were caused on construction sites. The primary causes of construction fatalities are labeled the “Fatal Four.” The Fatal Four are responsible for 59.9% of all construction worker deaths.

What Causes Construction Accident Injuries And Fatalities?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that eliminating Fatal Four risks through prevention could save 582 American construction workers’ lives annually. And these types of accidents are also the leading cause of serious non-fatal injuries.

In the most recent statistical report provided by BLS, the primary causes of construction fatalities in one year are detailed as follows:

Falls381

Struck by object80

Electrocutions71

Caught in between equipment50

By the very nature of construction, hazards are always present, and anything can cause devastating injuries and fatalities.

Prevention Of Construction Site Accidents

The following are specific steps that both construction employers and employees can take to prevent a construction site accident:

Training on safety standards and education about worksite dangers.

Specialized equipment training.

Daily or frequent crew safety meetings reminding employees to stay focused and to allow opportunities to discuss and identify relevant risk issues.

Use of protective clothing and gear designed for specific tasks, which may include hard hats, gloves, steel-toed shoes, high visibility clothing, goggles and/or a protective suit.

Clean workplace areas free of debris that could cause slips, trips, and falls.

Proper maintenance of equipment and tools, including adherence to a regular inspection schedule.

Pre-project hazard and risk inspection followed by the implementation of preventive measures.

Defensive vehicle driving, parking and backing up training.

Equipment should comply with OSHA standards and be used for the purpose it was designed.

Implicit adherence to OSHA’s procedures and rules.

Recovery For Construction Injury And Fatality Claims—Workers’ Compensation And Third-Party Claims

If you’ve been injured on a construction site or a loved one was killed, you may assume that workers’ compensation benefits are your only means of financial recovery. However, if a third-party such as an equipment manufacturer caused the accident, it’s possible the responsibility for your construction accident injuries may be the fault of a third party. In that case, you may be entitled to sue a third-party beyond workers’ compensation if it can be proven that they caused or contributed to your accident.

That’s Where Our Shreveport Construction Accident Injury Law Firm Can Intervene—Serving Shreveport and Bossier City

With decades of experience representing injured construction workers, our Shreveport product liability attorneys have the knowledge, resources and investigative skills necessary to properly and thoroughly determine what caused your accident. Upon investigation, our lawyers will determine whether you have a viable claim against a contractor, subcontractor, and/or equipment manufacturer for injury accountability that exceeds workers’ compensation lawful responsibility.

Advocates For Your Healing And Financial Future

Greenwald Law’s workers’ compensation and personal injury firm fights for the rights of injured construction workers and rigorously battles to obtain medical expense compensation, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation, long-term care, and disability, and wrongful death compensation for those who have suffered damages and losses related to injuries in construction. Our collaborative team of workers’ compensation, personal injury, and Shreveport wrongful death lawyers welcome all your questions and concerns.

While we won’t offer false hope or unrealistic expectations about case outcome, when we evaluate your unique circumstances, we’ll tell you honestly whether we believe you have a winnable case.

We’ll Never Charge You A Cent Up-Front—We Get Paid Only When Your Case is Won

As our client, you’ll never pay our Shreveport personal injury lawyers a cent up-front. We’ll handle all the costs of preparing your case from hiring medical experts and private investigators and accident scene reconstructionists, to interviewing witnesses and handling depositions, managing arbitration and mediation, paying court filing costs, and, when applicable, covering all the costs of trial litigation. Only after we win your case, will we get paid from a pre-agreed percentage of your win.

Learn Your Rights—Call Now to Speak With A Highly Skilled Construction Worker Injury Attorney

If you are suffering from injuries or grieving the loss of a loved one killed on a construction job, we want to help now. With strict time restrictions and statutes of limitations on filing job-related injury liability and wrongful death claims, call Greenwald Law Firm at 318-219-7867 to schedule your FREE, personal consultation with our legal team. Or if you prefer, send us a message on our contact form. With offices in Shreveport, it’s convenient to meet with us. But if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.

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