Construction site accidents are regrettably widespread, but they are also largely avoidable. Regardless of current safety protocols and regulations in the construction industry, construction workers routinely work in hazardous conditions and are at risk of severe injury. There is no doubt that construction work brings in a lot of employment opportunities for Texas. While the age-old saying that “everything is bigger in Texas” might be meant for its geographical area, OSHA confirms that the death rate for construction works is also higher than the national average.
Construction sites are riddled with machines, materials, conditions, and situations that can cause serious bodily harm or even death. However, although construction sites can be perilous for employees, there are ways to keep injuries to a minimum. Proper training, planning, and safety equipment can prevent most construction accidents. Even though a person may be aware of the inherent risks involved when taking employment on a construction site, it does not mean that accidents should not be mitigated or that others may not be liable for any injuries.
According to Dallas attorney Chip Brooker, the most commonly reported construction site injuries are:
- Muscle injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Burns
- Broken bones and fractures
- Shocks and electrocution
- Breathing in dangerous chemicals
- Spinal cord injuries and
- Traumatic brain injuries
Below we have highlighted a few ways that contractors and their employees can make construction sites safer for everyone involved.
Wear safety equipment
Whether it be steel-toed boots, rubber shoes or hard hats, wearing the correct safety equipment is instrumental in preventing injury. Employers are legally responsible for making sure that employees are properly trained and given all of the necessary safety equipment specific to their job at hand.
Keep regulations in place
All construction sites should adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommendations and guidelines to safeguard both employees on the construction site and the general public. Protocols are in place at a work site to keep your people safe and to mitigate the likelihood of an employer being sued for poor working conditions.
Routinely monitoring and updating construction site protocols and ongoing employee training are of utmost importance. Machinery and tools should be routinely inspected and maintained to ensure that they are working correctly and to avoid any risk of injury. If an employer skimps on their responsibility and one of their employees is injured or killed while on the job, then the employer is negligent.
Report any safety issues
If an employee notices a hazard while at a construction site, then it should be reported to management as soon as possible. Should a report be made in person, then ideally this should be followed up with an email to maintain a record of the claim. This will safeguard the employee from any potential retribution from an employer. Remember that should you not make a report, your conscience may suffer if one of your co-workers is eventually hurt.
Employers have an ethical obligation and legal responsibility to lessen the likelihood of construction site injuries; however, employees also need to ensure that they are adhering to protocols and wearing appropriate safety equipment when working in hazardous conditions. Ensuring that everyone remains safe will not only lower the likelihood of an accident but is good for business.