Every city is known for its unique architecture. And New York city stands high in this regard. It has 700,000 buildings and the construction workers of NY are responsible for building, renovating, and even demolishing these iconic buildings. People all over the world enjoy the famous skylines of New York are also made possible by the work done on construction job sites. But it is very sad to know that construction is currently ranked as New York’s most dangerous industry.
If you or your loved one is the victim of an accident on a construction site in New York, you should contact a construction accident attorney in New York to get the compensation you deserve. Even if it seems that accidents in construction sites are common, there are some major reasons behind these accidents. Some of the top reasons behind accidents on construction site are given below –
- Falls
Falls are by far the most common reason for construction work injuries. When construction workers step sideways or backwards without looking or using stairwells that lack guardrails, they can cause accidents. The consequences can be catastrophic, if the protection against falls is insufficient or entirely absent on a construction site. The accidents which occur because of falls can be prevented by proper training and the proper operation of machinery.
- Struck by Object
Many workers in construction sites died after being struck by an object. The lack of proper training is the leading cause of being struck by object injuries and death. Workers are more likely to suffer this type of injury, if they have not been trained in the proper safety procedures for the relevant machinery and equipment. Workers must be trained in proper braking procedures for vehicles, vehicles’ reverse alarms, tool guards, PPE, catch platform, and more.
- Defective Equipment
The tools and equipment must be safe and in good working order, when working on a construction site. But the most unfortunate thing is that this isn’t always the case and accidents can happen as a result of employees being given faulty or defective equipment to work with. Employees should regularly maintain and inspect tools and machinery in order to avoid employees incurring injuries as a result of using defective products
- Electric Shock
There is lots of electrical equipment in a construction site. If these electrical equipment are used incorrectly, or are faulty, it can result in electrical shock injury. Injuries like burns, scarring, long term nerve damage and even death can happen because of electric shocks. The risk of injury because of electric shock can be decreased by only asking qualified staff members to carry out electrical work. There should be regular maintenance and safety checks on electrical tools and machinery. Employees should be provided with the right safety gear and electrical safety equipment.
- Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents are preity common in a construction site and each year it causes the death or injury of many workers. Through effective traffic management on site, the risk of accidents can be minimized. Make sure that the vehicles and pedestrians are kept apart. Only fully competent and trained workers should operate vehicles on site. Vehicles should not be reversed on site as reversing vehicles on construction sites can cause fatal accidents.
- Manual Handling
Manual handling injuries can occur as a result of employees transporting heavy loads, by lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying. Injuries can take place, when employees try to move objects that are too heavy, or don’t use the correct techniques that they have been taught in training. They should implement any measures that can aid in the heavy lifting such as using pallet trucks, hoists or conveyors.
