The National Safety Council reported that over 4 million workers were injured while working in 2021, with those in the construction industry accounting for a significant percentage of incidents. These numbers do not include the fatalities that make the construction industry one of the most dangerous to work in.
Construction accidents in New York City can be largely attributed to negligence, but they have additional causes that we will discuss below.
Falls
Falls can occur anywhere on a construction site. A worker can trip on an uneven surface, debris, or equipment left lying around and get seriously injured. These injuries can range from sprains and bruises to broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. They could also fall into open floors or manholes if those responsible for them have not put up signs to warn others.
By far the most common types of falls at construction sites in NYC are falls from height. Construction workers often work in high areas that are only accessible using scaffolding, mechanical lifts, and ladders. If this equipment fails, they can fall and get seriously injured.
Workers can also fall from the top of structures. For example, they may be completing a roofing project and slip from a ladder.
Falls from height are very serious, often leading to severe injuries and fatalities. Construction businesses should provide workers with fall-arrest devices, and the management should have measures to protect them from such accidents. Failure to do this could be deemed negligent, and the injured worker would have grounds to sue for personal injury. Additionally, families can sue for wrongful death if their loved one passes away after such incidents.
Being Struck by an Object or Vehicle
Falling objects can injure workers and passers-by if the construction site is close to a road or in a busy area. The severity of the injuries caused by falling objects depends on their weight and the height from which someone drops them. Objects accelerate as they fall, with the height determining how fast they are moving when they stop. Because the energy they carry is a factor in their weight and velocity, these objects can do a lot of damage. Catch platforms and debris nets can help avoid many such accidents.
Workers and passersby can also be struck by vehicles if a worker forgets to activate parking brakes. Passing vehicles can also strike workers if there are no warning signs and orange cones to mark the work site. Drivers can also cause these accidents if they are distracted or not paying attention, making them liable.
Electrocution
Whether commercial or residential, all properties need power. Power, if not handled correctly, presents a risk of injurious shocks and fatal electrocutions. Both happen when a construction worker touches an exposed live wire with sufficiently high voltage and current. When they do, they provide a direct path to the ground, causing power to pass through them.
Injuries from electrocution can vary depending on several factors, such as the current, voltage, and length of exposure. The victim might experience thermal burns and falls that lead to injuries and tissue, nerve, and muscle damage. In severe cases, they may also suffer from cardiac arrest due to how electricity affects the heart.
The best way to prevent these accidents is to eliminate sources of contact and live wires. This means there should not be any live wires anywhere on a construction site. Additionally, only qualified and experienced electricians should be allowed to handle electricity and electrical circuits.
Lastly, construction businesses should provide safety training and establish protocols that keep their workers safe.
Crushing Accidents
Machinery and vehicles are the main causes of crushing accidents at construction sites. Besides striking workers, vehicles can crush them between other vehicles or structures. Workers injured in this way can seek workers’ compensation or sue for damages with the help of a personal injury attorney.
A worker can also be caught between a piece of equipment and a structure or be pinched by machinery. Such accidents occur when workers are so focused on their respective tasks that they do not know what is happening around them or what others are doing.
Other causes of crushing accidents include cave-ins, the collapse of a structure, or malfunctioning machinery.
Equipment Misuse and Malfunction
Every construction site requires tools and equipment that only trained workers should handle. Construction workers can put themselves and other workers at risk when using this equipment if they do not know how to do it properly and safely.
They can also do this by using a piece of equipment or tool for the wrong application. For example, there are numerous instances of construction workers using screwdrivers as chisels and causing serious injuries.
Power tools such as power saws, angle grinders, and drills can injure workers due to their spinning parts. These parts run at thousands of rotations per minute, meaning they can do significant damage if they break off.
Toxic Exposure
Some construction sites have and use toxic or flammable substances. These include stripping agents, cleansers, and other chemicals that should be labeled and stored correctly. Toxic exposure accidents can cause serious injuries, including burns, skin irritation, respiratory illnesses, and cancer.
Repetitive Actions
Repetitive strain injuries are very common in the construction industry. These can be caused by lifting and moving heavy objects regularly over many years. These actions can also lead to the gradual tear and wear of joints, nerves, and bones, leading to deterioration and a higher risk of specific injuries and issues.
Demanding job requirements play a significant role in the development of repetitive motion injuries, but so can workers not taking care of themselves.
Workers on New York City’s construction sites can get injured due to many reasons, including the nature of the job, inadequate training, inadequate safety equipment, and negligence. While some injuries workers sustain are treatable, some cause life-long problems, pain, and suffering.
If you have been injured at a construction site, you can get the legal assistance you deserve through our injury attorneys at the law offices of Marc. S Albert.
You can visit our offices at the following locations to talk to our attorneys:
- Astoria – 32-72 Steinway St, Astoria, NY 11103
- Brooklyn – 7113 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209
- Syosset – 175 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset, NY 11791
You can also call our offices now for a free consultation on (347) 472-5080.