Top 4 Construction Accidents

According to Forbes’ America’s 10 Deadliest Jobs, construction workers fall at number 10 on the list. Seeing the number of construction accidents and deaths we have had this year in New York City, this is not all that surprising. The large and heavy pieces of equipment that are needed and utilized at construction sites make accidents so dangerous and severe. One in five worker deaths in 2014 were in construction, which accounted for 20.5% of worker fatalities in the private industry. These scary figures are eye opening for us as personal injury attorneys and residents of New York City and should be for the rest of the population as well. Ensuring safety at work is a very necessary duty, by making sure all employees are properly trained, constantly being aware of surroundings and items that oppose a threat, and keeping work spaces clean, dry and most importantly, safe. Below are the top four deadliest type of accidents in the construction field:

1) Falls

In 2014, 349 of 874 total fatalities at construction sites occurred when a worker fell. That’s almost 40%, which is the highest percentage of construction site fatalities. Workers put themselves at high risk when they are working off of roofs, cranes and ladders. Safety precautions need to be alert at all times and also make sure that they know the proper protocol.

2) Struck by an object

Often workers work at high altitudes, such as when they scale buildings or build skyscrapers, making it easy for tools or other pieces of equipment that aren’t properly secured to fall from above and hit workers. Workers on the ground are at risk to because of all of the work going on above them. All tools and equipment should be properly secured and put away when done.

3) Caught in-between object or equipment

Getting caught in-between objects or equipment only accounted for 1.4% of total deaths, but this problem is still very dangerous and can cause very severe injuries far too often. This type of accident can happen when workers are not properly trained to operate the equipment. Training and retraining is the key here.

4) Electrocutions

Unfinished electrical systems with exposed wires can be a major threat, not even to just construction workers but also to everyday people in their own homes or walking near construction sites. About 8.5% of constriction death in 2014 were caused by electrocutions. The best way to avoid this problem to never pull a cord out of the socket or carry a tool by the cord. Electricians should do this or construction workers need to be properly trained. And of course, heed caution to this very dangerous equipment and follow all directions and instructions.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a construction site accident, please call the lawyers at the Law Office of Richard M. Kenny today for a free consultation to speak about your options and next steps. Our attorneys specialize in New York area construction accidents and have been trying these cases for over 100 years, collectively. Our $250 million in settlements and verdicts proves our expertise and success rate in this area. Call our office today to speak to experienced and compassionate attorneys who are here to work for you and on your behalf to make sure you get the best results from your construction accident case.

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Top 4 Construction Accidents

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