The Fatal Four Construction Site Accidents That Are All Too Common

Working in the construction industry is hard and potentially very dangerous. There is a lot of manual labor involved, as well as the potential for accidents and injuries. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, reports that four types of construction site accidents account for over half of all construction worker fatalities each year!

These four types of construction worker deaths are known as the “fatal four”. Today, our attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. will explain these fatal four construction site accidents, as well as your next steps if you or a loved one was injured (or worse) on the job.

Falls

Falling accidents are one of the most common types of injuries that occur on a construction job site. Oftentimes, the fall can be fatal.

Many construction site jobs require workers to perform their job hundreds of feet off the ground. There are numerous reasons falls occur, and some of the most common causes are:

Defective ladders
Improperly constructed scaffolding
Debris that causes slip or trip and fall injuries
Unmarked/unprotected holes, openings, or ledges
Unmarked excavation sites and trenches
Unguarded elevator shafts
Inclement weather

While it is inevitable for hazards to occur on construction sites, construction companies do have a duty to provide their workers with adequate safety equipment and fall prevention education. And while that duty is there, companies often overlook proper training and equipment to save money.

When this happens, it is important that injured workers, or a loved one’s family, pursue damages from the construction company or any other negligent parties. Contact Mickey Keenan, P.A. for a free case evaluation.

Struck-By Objects

Being struck by an object while on the construction site is a struck-by accident. These accidents occur when workers are hit by objects that are flying, swinging, rolling, or falling. Struck-by accidents, depending on how fast the object was traveling, can either result in a minor bruise or cut or result in a life-threatening and fatal injury.

Construction companies are expected to take reasonable precautions to prevent struck-by accidents from occurring, but when they do not take adequate measures to ensure the safety of their employees, they need to be held liable for the incident. Luckily, the injury attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. are ready to hold them accountable.

Some examples of the most common struck-by accidents are:

Dropped tools
Falling nuts and bolts
Falling scaffolding, lumbar, or pipes
Falling suspended loads
Broken high-pressure hoses and lines
Accidents with heavy equipment or vehicles

Electrocution

Construction workers, whether they are working on commercial or residential jobs, will at some point encounter electricity hazards. Exposed and live wires can cause minor injuries or even death depending on the amount of electric current that comes in contact with a worker’s body.

Construction workers may encounter these common electrical hazards while on a job site:

Wet conditions
Poorly insulated overhead power lines
Underground power lines struck with metal equipment while digging
Electrical equipment not properly grounded
Electric tools (using a plug or cord) not properly grounded or insulated
Electrical wiring is not in properly polarity
Electrical circuits without proper fuses or breakers
Overloaded or unapproved extension cord wires

Caught In-Between

The last of the fatal four construction site accidents are being caught in or caught in-between objects or parts of two objects. Workers are caught, crushed, pinched, or squeezed in these accidents by objects or parts of objects.

These accidents can also include a worker being buried, such as in a collapsing building, wall, or trench. Caught in-between accidents are very dangerous, as injuries can range from broken bones and permanent limb damage, to traumatic brain injuries and even death.

Are You or a Loved One a Victim of a Construction Site Accident?

Although construction accident claims are intricate and complex, the law firm of Mickey Keenan, P.A. is not intimidated by workplace injury/fatality cases.

We will work on behalf of your loved one to hold the construction company liable for negligence and ensure maximum compensation to the injured or loved one’s family.

To us, your family is our family. For a free case evaluation with an experienced personal injury lawyer who cares, call Mickey Keenan, P.A. today. We’ll work hard to make you whole again.