The construction industry has always been known to be a dangerous sector that has led to fatalities and life-threatening injuries. It has never been too risky to be termed as the deadliest sector in the United States. However, recent reports in New York City published that more deaths and injuries are happening in the construction sector as compared to other industries.
In 2017, New York City’s mayor had recognized that the construction sector was getting out of control about the number of accidents. As a proactive strategy, he had formulated and put into action some of the following measures to curb the increasing accident rates in the city:
- Mandating Extra Safety Training to Workers
- Increasing the Number of Safety Inspectors
- Extreme Supervision of Construction Sites
- Increased Fines on Safety Violations in Construction Sites
Causes of Accidents in Construction Sites
Despite the strict policies that continue to be formulated and implemented every year, the number of accidents continues to increase. As a construction site worker, understanding the causes of accidents on construction sites is necessary for safety and precaution purposes.
Struck by Falling Objects
When laborers are working on tall buildings, there is a higher chance that objects will fall or fly in any direction in the sky. These objects have been at the center of a huge number of construction site accidents. Studies show that at least 100 people die every year after being struck by falling objects. Safety rules require that every worker wear a hard hat to protect against falling objects.
Caught in Between Objects
According to OSHA, a huge number of people are likely to be caught in between objects, leading to fatal accidents or even death. Moving machinery or cranes that are not turned off have caused a huge number of fatalities in construction sites in the last few years. Statistics indicate that more than 70 workers are caught in between objects in construction sites, leading to deaths.
Electrocution
Studies indicate that electrocution is one of the top four causes of accidents in construction sites. 8% of all fatalities in the construction site involve people who have been electrocuted. Although any person working on the construction site is likely to be electrocuted, there is a huge number of laborers who are more prone to electrocution such as plumbers, carpenters, roofers, electricians, and power-line installers. The use of the right gear at the workplace has been central in reducing the number of workers who have been electrocuted in the last few years.
Building Materials
Building materials have also been recognized as some of the causes of the severe accidents that people are experiencing in New York City construction sites. Some of the materials that have been known to cause an accident include screws, nails, lumber, tubing, ducts, and pipes. All construction workers are highly encouraged to wear the necessary protective gear to prevent injuries from construction materials.
Trips and Falls
OSHA has classified trips and falls as the leading causes of construction site accidents not only in New York City but also around the country. Some of the cause of trips and falls in any construction site includes tools, cables, wires, machines, holes, and trenches, among others. It is usually tricky to navigate a job site because there are many tools and equipment that are usually left sitting around.
Have You Been a Victim of a Construction Site Accident?
In case you were a victim of a construction accident in New York, make sure you act fast to access the necessary compensation. With a personal injury attorney, there is a higher chance that the agency can be enforced by the civil court to pay you damages to cater for your medical expenses, disability, pain, and suffering, among other punitive damages.
