Many common construction injuries could be avoided with better safety techniques and protocols on the job. Working too many hours or repeating the same motions can cause repetitive strain injuries, while standing too long can eventually cause foot, ankle, knee, hip or back problems. Employers know about these injuries and should be taking precautions to make sure employees stay as safe as possible while working.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 percent of the injuries and illnesses workers reported in 2009 were experienced by those in the construction industry. These workers made up 4.3 percent of all nonfatal illnesses and injuries per 100 workers, more than many other industries.
What was the most common reason for injury? Falling, according to the CDC. Falls made up 22 percent of reported injuries these workers faced. Construction workers often work high above the ground. They may be on roofs, ladders or scaffolding; if any of these items fails or collapses, workers could drop to the ground. In some cases, scaffolding could collapse, and ladders could slip. In any case, workers who are hurt in a fall need to report the injury to their employers and seek workers’ compensation for the injury, especially if it’s severe.
Other common accidents include being hit by falling objects, like tools workers overhead are using, or being involved in an accident with work equipment. Even wearing hardhats won’t always save workers from the pain of a falling object injury, and employees who aren’t properly trained or who make mistakes could injure other workers with equipment.
Source: FindLaw, “Common Construction Injury Types,” accessed Jan. 21, 2016