COMMON ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IN CONSTRUCTION

According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, there are several common causes of construction site accidents. The most common types of construction accidents include:

• Fall Accidents. Fall accidents on construction sites may include a roofing accident, scaffolding accident, lift accident or any other type of accident where a construction worker falls from a significant height while on a job site. Our law firm has helped hundreds of clients throughout Arizona with their construction accident cases. If there is one type of accident in construction site accident cases that our law firm sees most often, it is fall accidents. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are also the leading cause of fatalities in construction.
• Slip and Falls / Trip and Falls. According to OSHA, slip and falls and trip and falls are one of the leading causes of injuries in construction. A slip or trip on the ground could cause a serious injury.
• Site Trench and Excavation Accidents. Trenches are commonly used on construction sites to bury plumbing, conduit and electric wires. They are also used to gain access to the underground area. Site trench and excavation accidents can be devastating. Falls, trench collapse accidents, asphyxiation and electrocution are accidents that can occur due to a site trench or excavation.
• Struck by Accidents in the Workplace. Construction workers are at risk of being struck by a piece of machinery or a motor vehicle while working on a construction site.
• Exposure to Dangerous Toxins or Chemicals. Often the biggest risk for construction workers is exposure to toxins and hazardous chemicals. Asbestos and lead are common hazards, but construction works may also be exposed to chemical solvents, pesticides and flammable materials.
• Electrocution. Exposed electrical wires, generators, power tools, and other electrical equipment all create risks for electrocuting construction workers.
• Caught-in Between Accidents in Construction. Caught-in between accidents are ranked in OSHA’s “fatal four” causes of construction worker deaths. These accidents occur when a construction worker is crushed, caught, or compressed between two objects. Construction workers have died, suffered paralysis, fractures, internal organ damage, and loss of limb and nerve damage from these accidents.