If you work in the construction industry you already know that a construction site can be a dangerous place to work. The general public often assumes that law enforcement officers and fireman are most at risk while on the job. In reality, the construction industry consistently has the second highest workplace fatality rate in the nation, behind only the transportation industry. The combination of dangerous machinery, multiple projects going on at once, and inadequate training can result in serious, even life-threatening, accidents for anyone working on a construction site.
Common Construction Site Accidents in San Diego
While there are an endless number of possible accidents that could occur at a construction site, there are a number of common construction site accidents in San Diego, including:
- Scaffolding accidents – scaffolding is commonly used during the construction or repair of buildings. Improper construction, inadequate materials, or failure to use proper safety techniques can lead to a fall and/or the collapse of the scaffolding.
- Crane accidents – cranes are frequently used to move heavy building materials around a construction site. Operator error and/or overloading the crane can lead to the load coming to lose and tumbling to the ground – putting everyone on the ground at risk.
- Falls – according to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration or OSHA, fall accidents are the number one cause of construction site fatalities, causing 36 percent of all construction worksite deaths in 2012.
- Struck by object – along with falls, electrocutions, and “caught in-between” accidents, “struck by object” accidents are included in OSHA’s “Fatal Four” which represent three out of every five construction industry fatalities.
- Electrical accidents – electrical injuries caused almost ten percent of all construction industry deaths in 2012.
- Caught in-between – a construction site often has numerous pieces of heavy machinery moving at the same time. A worker can easily get “caught in between” a load being moved and a stationary object, causing serious injuries.
- Machinery malfunctions – the machinery used at a construction site is powerful and potentially dangerous. Whether by operator error or a manufacturer defect, if machinery malfunctions, it can cause life-threatening injuries.
A construction site accident often leaves the worker with physical and emotional injuries as well as causes financial hardship for the entire family. If you have been injured in a California construction site accident you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and/or be entitled to compensation through a third-party lawsuit. Contact an experienced San Diego construction site accident attorney as soon as possible to find out what legal options you may have.