For any resident of New York City, construction is a daily part of your life. The City is constantly being built up, fixed, and rebuilt. Construction is, however, a dangerous job. Construction workers put themselves at constant risk daily to make our City better for everyone else. According to NYC health officials, over 27 percent of workplace fatalities occur in construction, even though construction workers make up only five percent of NYC’s total workforce. Below, we identify some of the most common construction accidents and injuries that befall workers and civilians alike on construction sites. If you were injured on a construction worksite in New York, reach out to a passionate and effective Bronx construction accident lawyer at the Kohn Law Firm.
Slips and Falls
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that falls are the most common cause of construction worker injury. Construction workers constantly have to navigate around loose cords, errant objects, uneven surfaces, chemical and water spills, muddy ground, exposed wires, discarded tools, and any number of other materials lying around at all times. Any one of these objects or surface hazards can cause a slip, trip, or fall, leading to serious injury.
Electrocution
OSHA also identifies electrocution as one of the most common injuries for construction workers. Construction sites are rife with exposed wires, dangerous electrical equipment, loose fluids (especially if there is inclement weather), and incomplete electrical systems. Safety precautions should lessen the risk, but if a construction company or real estate owner chooses to ignore or skimp on safety materials or training, electrocution poses a very dangerous risk.
Caught/crushed in-between
Construction workers are constantly surrounded by large machinery as well as large moving objects. Many workers end up stuck in machinery or crushed or caught in between two objects, such as construction equipment, building materials, or objects being carried by cranes or forklifts.
Flying Objects
Falls, electrocution, caught in-between and flying objects are called the “Fatal Four” construction workplace accidents, collectively representing more than half of construction worker job-related deaths.
Objects such as construction materials and equipment are constantly being moved from one place to another, often to different levels via crane, forklift, ramp, along scaffolding or other narrow surfaces. Swinging, flying, falling, or rolling objects can strike workers on the same level or lower levels and cause significant injury to the limbs, torso, or head.
Contractors and Property Owners are Liable for Construction Accident Injuries in the Bronx
If you or someone you love has been hurt on a construction site in New York, find out if you have a claim for damages against employers, owners, insurance companies, or other parties responsible for your injuries. Contact the seasoned and talented personal injury lawyers at the Bronx offices of the Kohn Law Firm for a free consultation at 718-409-1200.