There’s just no way around it—a construction site is a dangerous place to work, maybe the most precarious in the world. Unfortunately, because of a number of factors, many of the injuries sustained on a construction job are serious or even fatal. In 2015, nearly 1,000 workers were killed on a residential or commercial construction site. Statistics show that four kind of accidents account for about two-thirds of all construction site fatalities.
Falls from Heights
Whether it’s a high rise apartment or a single story home, it still involves scaling some height. Even a fall from 10 feet can be fatal under the right circumstances. According to studies, more than a third of all construction site result from falls from heights. This includes falls caused by:
- The absence of guard rails or barriers, or the failure to maintain construction barriers
- Negligence in the construction, erection, maintenance, use or assembly of a ladder or scaffold
- Careless use of buckets, cranes and other equipment
Contact with Electrical Current
About one in every ten fatalities occur when a worker makes contact with live electrical current. Often, it’s loose wiring, but contact with overhead wires is also a leading cause of death.
Caught-Between Accidents
Construction sites have building materials, heavy equipment, barriers and other structures that can trap workers, causing crushing deaths.
Falling Objects
The same things that can cause caught-between accidents can also kill a worker when they fall from an upper level. A little less than one of every ten deaths on a construction site are caused by falling objects.
Contact Barnard, Mezzanotte, Pinnie, Seelaus & Kraft LLP
At Barnard, Mezzanotte, Pinnie, Seelaus & Kraft LLP, we have fought for the rights of individuals throughout Delaware County since 1980. We offer a free initial consultation. To schedule an appointment, call us at 610-565-4055 or 302-594-4535 or contact us online.