The Top Causes of Construction Accidents and How to Prevent Them

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the construction sector accounted for 20.7% of worker fatalities in the private industry in 2017. The high number of accidents in construction can be attributed to the fact that construction sites are among the most hazardous workplaces. Thankfully, most of these workplace accidents can be prevented if the site owners, managers, and workers play their part in enhancing safety. An article by Greenberg and Stein construction accident lawyers highlights falls, falling objects, machinery accidents, excavation accidents and scaffolding accidents as the common causes of construction site accidents and injuries. Below is a brief overview of each and how they can be prevented. 

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Falls

These are the major causes of accidents at construction sites. Falls from height often lead to serious injuries and also death. Some of the things employers should invest in to prevent falls include harnesses, guardrails and safety nets among others. Additionally, the employer should work to eliminate hazards that may cause falls, invest in personal protection equipment and also train all employees on how to stay safe when working in a risky environment.

Falling Objects

Falling objects can be loads, tools and materials used in construction. Since most objects fall without warning, the workers are unable to run for safety. The key ways to prevent injuries from falls include ensuring that all workers are provided with protective gear, ensuring all employees useand store tools and equipment safely, use of barricades in fall zones, use of safety nets, checking load limits and securing loads.

Machinery Accidents

Machinery accidents can be as a result of faulty designs, poor maintenance, objects getting stuck in the machinery, mechanical failure or incorrect use. Lack of safety warnings can also be a cause of construction accidents. Employers and contractors can reduce machinery accidents by investing in high-quality machinery, training workers how to handle and operate machines well, and ensuring that every machine is serviced regularly. Machinery should only be handled by workers with the right training.

Excavation Accidents

Excavation is one of the high-risk tasks in construction. People and equipment can fall into the excavation, you can have cave-ins and falling objects can hit people working on the excavation among other risks. To eliminate excavation injuries,consider proper risk assessment before the project begins, inspecting the area every day, training the workers, keeping heavy equipment away from the edges, providing protective gear for all workers, fencing around, sloping and shoring among others.

Scaffolding Accidents

When done right, scaffolding offers workers have the safety and support they need. However, when the structures are not up to standard, accidents can happen. Scaffolding accidents could also result from falling objects, lack of proper fall protection, lack of proper training for workers and environmental factors. To eliminate scaffolding accidents, employers should adhere to OSHA standards.

Most construction accidents can be eliminated by taking the necessary safety measures. In case you or a loved one is injured in a construction accident, talk to a construction accident attorney before taking any step.