Despite all the concerns over work safety that the construction industry has complied with, there are many dangers in the process of building construction, repair, and maintenance, and potentially hazardous situations frequently arise. The dangerous and unstable nature of this type of work, coupled with the sometimes errant observation of safety procedures, makes construction work one of the highest risk employment opportunities available.

Even with the myriad of regulations, safety codes, building codes, and industry standards, accidents do occur. The nature of construction work leads to several very common types of injuries. These telltale construction accident injuries consist of electric shock, unhealthy and repeated exposure to high levels of asbestos and other harmful chemicals, blunt trauma from moving equipment and machines, falls, repeated motion or lifting strains, trauma from falling materials and supplies, various forms of lacerations, abrasions, and blunt trauma from defective equipment and materials. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes the high rate of death from traumatic injuries in the construction industry as alarmingly high. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention cites fifteen and a quarter deaths per one-hundred thousand construction employees.

There are laws in place to protect the rights of construction workers while on the job and following a construction accident. Knowing your rights as an employed construction worker is vital in ensuring a safe work environment as well as recovering quickly and efficiently in the event of an, “on the job,” accident. One important benchmark in establishing the safety regulations of a construction worksite is the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA). Adherence to these polices is almost universal across al fifty states. Most companies have implemented strict measures to adhere to these regulations for the safety of their workers as well as to avoid being liable in the event of a worksite injury. In proving for liability for cases of construction site accidents, any violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act will usually render the property owner or construction contractor liable in the event of an injury.

In the event you are injured while working on a construction site, certain steps should be taken appropriately and quickly to ensure your recovery costs and damages from the injuries sustained are not your financial obligation. First and foremost, seeking immediate medical attention and retaining all medical documentation is vital and of the utmost importance. Secondly, reporting and making a claim with your company’s manager or human resources department is integral. Noting and having evidence of this report is also important. Third, finding and retaining the information and statements of all witnesses is important for preparing a case in the event your injury claims reach the point of civil litigation.

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