Construction is difficult, dangerous, and demands a high level of expertise and training. Workers aren’t the only ones responsible for keeping things safe on a construction site. Construction sites are teeming with potential hazards. Federal safety regulations must be obeyed and appropriate safety procedures must be implemented to guarantee that workers can leave a job site without injury.
Many injuries workers suffer on the job are preventable, resulting from someone’s negligence. As a result, suffering an injury while on the job site may entitle you to compensation. Anyone who suffers an injury on a construction site should consider consulting a personal injury lawyer about pursuing compensation.
Most Common Construction Hazards in Washington State
Everyone who steps foot on a Washington construction site should be aware of the most common hazards they could encounter.
Hazardous Chemicals and Materials
At any construction site, you may find various resources needed to get the job done. While every resource has its dangers, construction workers are often exposed to chemicals and other materials that can be especially hazardous to their health.
Matter such as silica dust, asbestos, lead fumes, solvent-based adhesives, and carbon monoxide can be found in buildings, regularly used materials, and equipment. Exposure to these chemicals and materials can lead to serious health concerns like cancer and physiological malfunctions.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
While slips, trips, and falls can occur anywhere, they’re more likely to occur on construction sites where many people move around and use materials like wood and paint. Any material could be knocked over, spilled, or even placed on the ground, creating a safety hazard that could lead to a severe injury.
Typically, a well-managed worksite would have protocols and policies for addressing situations that could result in a slip, trip, and fall. If these policies are not implemented or properly followed, it could jeopardize the safety of everyone at the construction site.
In addition to stray materials, working at heights also results in fall injuries on construction sites. Working on a stairway or ladder at any height can be hazardous. Ladders must be appropriate for the job they are being used for and free from defects. Ladders not in proper working order should be set aside and labeled to avoid use. Placing a ladder on an unstable surface can cause injury as well.
Electrical Hazards
Electrical hazards are major workplace dangers that put workers at risk of becoming burned, electrocuted, shocked, or experiencing a fire, arc flash, or arc blast. Each year, a significant number of electrical injuries in the US are sustained by construction workers.
The main electrical hazards found in construction work are overhead power lines, electrified sources like faulty equipment, and improper extension cord use. Ladders with metallic parts can also become electrical hazards if not kept away from power lines and electrical work.
Construction workers, roofers, and service workers made up many of the contractors who suffered fatal electrical injuries. Anyone who may be exposed to an electrical hazard on a job site must complete electrical safety training.
Caught-in and Caught-Between Hazards
Caught-in or caught-between hazards are accidents where a person is squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more things or pieces of an object. In construction, this often arises when people are caught in moving parts of machinery, between objects that are moving or squeezing together. Caught-in accidents also often occur when a trench or scaffolding collapses and traps workers underneath heavy debris, causing serious injuries from the weight and impact.
Struck-By Hazards
Falling debris is a major concern on most construction sites, which is why workers and anyone else on the site are often required to wear hard hats and other protective gear. Struck-by hazards are divided into four categories: flying objects, falling objects, swinging objects, and rolling objects. A person struck by debris, like chunks of concrete or brick, or heavy, moving machinery could suffer a severe or even catastrophic injury.
Reach Out to a Top-Rated Washington Construction Accident Attorney Today
Exposure to a construction site hazard could lead to a severe injury or potentially be fatal. The after-effects of such an accident can also leave victims in a poor physical state while jeopardizing their financial stability. While the general rule in Washington State is that you cannot file a lawsuit against your employer for an L&I work injury, injured people still have legal rights that allow them to receive compensation for their injuries.
Premier Law Group is committed to assisting their clients in obtaining the compensation they are due following a construction site injury. No matter where you reside in the state of Washington, our construction accident lawyers can work with you and provide you with proper legal guidance, and we even visit hospitals and homes. Since our professional service works on a contingency basis, you will have no lawyer fees unless we win your case.Call (206) 880-7518 or use our contact form to find out what legal action you can take to recover the compensation you deserve.
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