Construction Accidents and the Fatal Four

Construction sites are fast-paced, dynamic places that often pose serious hazards for workers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, scaffolding-related accidents, often from falls, result in approximately 60 deaths and 4,500 injuries every year.

The extreme risks workers face daily on construction sites make construction the United States’s most hazardous industry. Among these dangers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified the Focus Four Hazards (also known as the “Fatal Four”) as the most common job site accidents, accounting for nearly 60% of construction-related deaths.

Let’s take a closer look at the Fatal Four job site hazards, how they can be prevented, and what role construction accident lawyers play in helping victims get compensation in the aftermath of injury.

The “Fatal Four” in construction accidents

OSHA categorizes the Fatal Four construction accidents as the leading causes of construction industry deaths. Let’s have a look at these accidents, their causes, and how to prevent them.

1. Falls

Falls are the highest construction worker death factor and, according to the Texas Department of Insurance, constituted about 37% of all on-the-job fatalities in 2021. Workers usually fall from heights, such as scaffolding, unfinished structures, roofs, or ladders. For example, a worker might fall off of scaffolding due to the support giving way or being struck by a falling piece of debris.

• Causes: Construction site falls happen for several reasons, including a lack of a proper guardrail system, poor training for working at heights, and an absence or improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Impact on victims: As a result, fall victims can suffer severe spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or even fall to their deaths.
• Prevention tips for construction companies: Employers can avoid these accidents by providing adequate PPE, training for working at heights, and installing guardrail systems to prevent falls. Moreover, regular tool maintenance and equipment inspection, such as ladders, scaffolding, and building materials, can also help prevent injuries.

2. Struct-by incidents

Struck-by incidents are quite common on construction sites, accounting for 10% of construction accident deaths. For example, workers may come under a falling wall, be hit by heavy machinery, or be struck when tools/materials fall from heights.

• Causes: These accidents are caused by inadequate warning signs for nearby workers, poorly secured loads or bad load management, and impaired vision due to blind spots or low lighting.
• Prevention tips for construction companies: Struck-by accidents can be prevented by building proper safety belts and lanyards, securing loads, equipment, etc., providing clear signs for workers to read, even in dim lighting, and requiring workers to wear up-to-date safety gear like proximity sensors and smart helmets.

3. Electrical shock or electrocution

Electrical shock events or electrocutions (electrical shock events resulting in death) occur when workers come into contact with damaged wires, open wires, exposed current lines, or faulty power equipment. These constitute 8% of all construction site accidents.

• Causes: Workers dealing with overhead wires, operating poorly insulated equipment or machinery, or performing high-risk activities with little to no training can suffer electrical shock, resulting in severe burn injuries, cardiac arrests, brain damage, and even death.
• Prevention tips for construction companies: The use of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI), properly insulated equipment, and adequate training in electrical hazards can save lives on construction sites.

4. Caught-in/between accidents

Workers often get trapped under structures, caught, crushed, or squeezed between machinery or equipment on construction sites. These deaths make up 5% of the total accidents.

• Construction accident examples: Workers get caught in the moving machinery, weak structures collapse over workers, and even trenches collapse over workers. These accidents happen due to a lack of proper training in handling heavy machinery, not setting up a trench protection system, and failure to identify structural hazards.
• Prevention tips for construction companies: Continuous inspection of structures, using proper covers for heavy machinery, and shoring techniques for excavation sites can help prevent these accidents.

Who can be sued if I’m injured on a construction site?

The aftermath of construction site injury or death can completely upend the victim and their family’s world. Medical bills, lost wages, physical and emotional trauma, or the passing of a loved one can make life feel unbearable.

After suffering a construction-related injury, you may file a worker’s compensation claim. You might find out that you’re unqualified for worker’s compensation or that you have the option to pursue workers’ compensation and another claim. Your lawyer can help you determine if you might have a third-party lawsuit. If you believe your injury resulted from defective tools or equipment or the negligence of someone other than your coworkers, it’s important to consult with a construction accident lawyer as soon as possible.

The Martin & Helms team can offer support during this uncertain time, helping you consider all your options and discover the best path forward for your unique case.

Identifying liable parties

As there may be several parties involved, one of the first things we do is help victims identify all possible liable parties. Depending upon the negligence, these could include:

1. Property owners: If hazards at the site caused the death or injury.
2. Subcontractors: If they failed to follow safety protocols
3. Equipment manufacturers: If they provided faulty equipment or tools or didn’t provide adequate training materials and/or in-built safety measures.

Filing claims and lawsuits

The last thing you want to deal with during a personal injury claim is a massive stack of paperwork. Martin & Helms streamlines this process by:

1. Claiming lost wages and medical expenses for victims.
2. Filing a lawsuit in case of evident negligence.
3. Ensuring and following statutory deadlines and compliance.
4. Fighting for the client’s maximum compensation from companies and insurance providers who often attempt to reduce payouts.

Advocating for policy changes

Apart from these services, construction accident lawyers can help advocate for policies that ensure a safe working environment on construction sites, including proper training, better PPE, and periodic equipment maintenance.

While OSHA’s preventive regulations and policies can help make job sites safe, accidents continue to happen in spite of them. Unfortunately, it’s typically the workers who suffer the consequences when subcontractors, land owners, or corporations neglect or shortcut policy implementation.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a construction-related accident, please don’t hesitate to contact a Huntsville personal injury lawyer from Martin & Helms at your earliest convenience. Call our office or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation in Huntsville or Decatur today. We also assist clients in Madison and Athens.