According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 4,500 people suffer serious injuries from scaffolding accidents each year. In addition, more than 60 workers die each year from these workplace accidents.
These accidents are often caused by poor construction or faulty equipment from the manufacturer. If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffolding accident, it is important to contact an experienced Houston construction accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Falling Objects
Falling objects on construction sites are not only common, but they can also be devastating. They can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones and other serious injuries.
Fortunately, many falling object accidents are preventable if workers and employers follow safety regulations and work safely. If a company does not train workers about fall protection, fails to inspect their scaffolding regularly, or allows workers to exceed the weight capacity of their scaffolding, it can be liable for causing serious accidents and injuries.
If you’ve been injured in a falling object accident, speak with an experienced Los Angeles work injury attorney to discuss your legal options. You may be entitled to recover compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. Your legal team will fight to ensure that you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries. This will allow you to pay for your care and support needs while you recover. It will also help to alleviate the financial strain on your family and loved ones.
Electrocution
One of the most common causes of scaffolding accidents is electrocution. Scaffolding is a dangerous job and should be done only by trained professionals.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict rules about scaffolding. These rules include safety training, use of guardrails and other safeguards and the removal of hazards.
Many construction workers are harmed or killed on the job due to electrocution and other electrical hazards. These deaths are often the result of improper use of equipment or lack of proper safety gears.
Almost 22% of all electrocution cases occur when a worker comes into contact with energized equipment or machinery. Employers must ensure that all energized equipment is kept far away from workers.
Striking Objects
While a majority of construction worker deaths on job sites are from falling or electrocuting hazards, a significant number of fatalities and injuries also result from striking objects. This is one of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) “Fatal Four” hazards, but there are steps that employers can take to protect their workers from these accidents.
Struck-by hazards occur when an object or piece of equipment falls, swings, or rolls over a worker. They’re a leading cause of death among construction workers, accounting for nearly one-quarter of all fatal worksite injuries.
Often, these incidents are the result of careless errors or a contractor’s improper installation of protective equipment. Those who sustain severe injuries or lose their lives in a strike-by incident may be eligible to receive compensation through a workers’ comp claim, personal injury lawsuit, or wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault parties.
Catching Between Objects
When workers are working on construction sites and compounds with machinery or other heavy equipment in place, it is easy for them to get caught between pieces of equipment. This can result in crushing injuries, involuntary amputations and strangulation.
According to OSHA, a caught-in or -between accident occurs when a worker’s body is squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched or compressed between two or more objects or parts of an object. This can happen when a worker is pulled into operating equipment; gets pinned between equipment and a solid object; or gets trapped in materials being stacked or stored on top of a heavy object, like a wall.
These accidents are very common on construction sites and can lead to severe personal injuries or death. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent these kinds of accidents on a construction site.
