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Construction work is a vital element of society, which is why the work remains so commonplace despite its dangers. There have been years in which 20% of all work-related deaths occurred within the construction industry. That statistic shows the inherent level of risk that comes with this line of work. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that someone will be safe on a construction site. Some actions, even ones as common as driving a car, will likely always lead to a certain percentage of accidents and injuries. 

That is one of the reasons why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), whose mission is to increase workplace safety by enforcing standards, studied construction sites. They defined four specific areas where construction workers are at the most risk. At Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., we represent injured workers to get the compensation they need. However, preventing the accident from ever occurring is significantly more beneficial to the worker. 

Falling Objects & Electricity 

Being struck by an object and electrocution are two of the four most common accidents on a construction site. The former covers everything from materials falling to being hit by someone driving heavy machinery. As an employee, you should be trained in regards to wearing protective equipment, distance management, and understanding how to recognize when an area is secured. Think in terms of multiple layers of safety. When objects are being lifted or lowered, maintaining a safe distance from the site (if the load falls) is one, and your PPE is another. 

Electrocutions can occur when people are working on or repairing live equipment. Employees should be trained on lock-out/tag-out procedures. This is when an employee uses their own lock to shut a piece of equipment’s power source down and has a supervisor sign off on it. The employee then begins working on the equipment, knowing that the only way for the equipment’s power source to be turned back on is if they take their own lock off. 

Though the other two most common sources of accidents are being caught between something and falling, the ways to mitigate and manage these situations are through safety training that addresses the pre-identified potentials for injuries and wearing the correct equipment. 

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.

People spend a significant amount of their lives at work. Although construction sites can be dangerous, they serve an essential function. If you were injured on one, contact the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. to schedule your consultation. Though we cannot prevent your injury, we have ways of making it right.