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What to know about worksite dangers and accidents

Whether you just started in the construction industry or have worked in it for a number of years now, you are probably well aware of the fact that this is an incredibly dangerous field of work. Construction sites often present a wide range of dangers that can lead to serious or even fatal injuries if the right precautions are not taken.

To help our California readers avoid a potential workplace accident of their own, we wanted to point out some construction dangers and accidents as well as the injuries they can cause. The hope is that it will give our readers a better idea of the dangers they could face and what to do if they suffer a work-related injury down the road.

As you can imagine, some accidents are more common than others. The ones that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sees the most are:

  • Scaffolding collapses
  • Falls from ladders or scaffolding
  • Strikes to the head from falling objects or debris
  • Trench collapses
  • Electrocution

All of these accidents can lead to serious or even fatal injuries that can range from broken bones to more catastrophic injuries. In some cases, an employer may be to blame for failing to maintain equipment, not providing the right protective equipment, or even failing to provide proper training to employees. This negligence can prove problematic though for the employer for two reasons.

The first and most obvious thing is that a work-related injury often entitles an employee to workers' compensation benefits. After an accident is reported by the employee, OSHA may even investigate the site to see if any safety violations exist and if any citations need to be issued.

The second and perhaps less obvious problem facing employers is civil litigation. Instead of seeking workers' compensation, an employee may instead decide to hold their employer liable for any work-related injuries. This choice is often made after speaking with a lawyer and can lead to litigation.

Source: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, "Worker Safety Series, Construction," Accessed Aug. 21, 2014

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