Construction sites have inherent risks, making safety a priority for the industry. Knowing the work site hazards and the resulting serious injuries can help prevent future accidents. What are the most common severe injuries that construction workers face?
5 life-changing injuries
Construction work requires intense physical labor. The construction work hazards highlight the health challenges that construction workers can face:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Workers can suffer neurological damage when falling from scaffolding, roofs or ladders. This can cause permanent cognitive issues.
- Spinal cord injuries: Falls from heights or being crushed by objects can result in severe damage to the spinal column. This can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
- Crushing injuries and amputations: A worker who is hit by falling tools, debris or caught between heavy machinery can suffer broken bones. In severe cases, they can suffer crushing injuries or lost limbs.
- Severe electrical burns: Contact with live power lines or faulty wiring can cause severe burns, nerve damage or cardiac arrest. This can leave lasting tissue and neurological trauma.
- Internal organ damage: Being struck by equipment or objects can cause severe trauma to organs like the lungs, liver or spleen. This can cause various life-threatening complications.
These injuries demand immediate, extensive medical care. Also, these injuries can involve extended hospital stays and costly rehabilitation, impacting the ability of a worker to earn a living in the construction field again.
Pursuing all available sources of recovery
Given the severity of common construction accident injuries, prompt action can help protect the worker and their family’s financial future. However, going through the workers’ compensation process can be complex, daunting and difficult. By seeking legal counsel, injured construction workers may better fight for their rights and pursue all available sources of recovery.