Working in construction will always be dangerous, but there are ways to prevent injuries that can help. For instance, workers often wear hardhats or have flashing or reflective gear to identify them. Still, even with these safety precautions, situations like working on highways can make construction a dangerous business.
An Oct. 5 report about a woman who was struck working on Barton Road in Belmont County shows just how dangerous working can be when there are others on the roads. While this case had a hit-and-run driver that is still unaccounted for, the worker, just like you if you’re hurt at work, is fortunate in that workers’ compensation should cover her medical bills and lost wages.
In this case, the worker was working in the afternoon on the road; she was directing traffic. While she was directing cars around the area, a vehicle struck her, breaking her leg. The car’s driver fled the scene in his vehicle, leaving her to suffer until she could be taken to a hospital for an assessment.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, which was fortunate to end without a fatality. Other workers in the state haven’t been as fortunate. According to a report from Oct 6, Ohio is now leading the Midwest for workers who are killed on the job.
What’s making the state more dangerous? It’s not really, according to federal data. Other areas are simply doing better, while Ohio is at a plateau. Limiting worker exposure to danger is the primary way to keep injuries and fatalities from taking place, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration claims that safe work practices need to be reinforced and paid attention to for the number of injuries and deaths to drop.
Source: WTOV, “Construction worker injured in hit-and-run accident,” Ryan Eldredge, Oct. 05, 2015