Construction accident injuries can have serious consequences for construction workers and their families. Unfortunately, the construction industry can carry significant risks for workers who should be familiar with the different types of construction injuries and how workers’ compensation benefits may be able to help them when they have been injured on a construction site.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that during 2009 of the 3.3 million workplace injuries and illnesses reported, 9% were suffered by construction workers. A total of 22% of the injuries suffered by construction workers were related to falls. Falls on the job are a serious cause of injuries to construction workers. Construction workers may be injured in falls from scaffolding, cranes, roofs, ladders and other heights while on a job site.
Additional construction accident injuries construction workers may suffer can include injuries from falling objects. Falling objects that have not been properly secured on a construction site may injure construction workers. Equipment-related injuries can also be a serious risk for injured workers who may be injured by a mis-fired nail gun or other piece of equipment. Likewise, construction workers can be injured in back over and crush between injuries because of the heavy machinery common on construction sites. Trench and building collapses may also injure construction workers along with hazards from fires and explosions.
Although not always associated with construction work, construction workers may also suffer repetitive stress injuries from repetitive motion work common on construction sites. Workers’ compensation benefits can help injured construction workers with their injuries, medical expenses and lost pay which is why construction workers need to be familiar with how workers’ compensation benefits work and how they can help them when injured on-the-job.