Have a question? Call us on 0800 1979 345
Have a question? Call us on 0800 1979 345
This article was published on October 13th, 2017
When it comes to dangerous workplaces construction sites are ranked amongst some of the most hazardous.
Being surrounded by heavy machinery, materials being loaded and unloaded and unique hazards and obstacles seemingly at every turn, it can be difficult to avoid personal injury.
Whilst some hazards are easy to spot, others are less so.
In 2022/23 there were an estimated 59,000 non-fatal workplace injuries in the construction sector, whilst 45 workers died as a result of a construction-related injury.
By ensuring you are up to speed with common construction injuries, we hope to help you reduce your risk of sustaining a workplace injury, but should the worst happen we will also share advice on how you can make a claim.
Whilst the causes of injury are numerous and varied, we’ve compiled a list of 8 of the most common causes of injury on a building site, as well as solutions that can help you avoid them in the future.
On any given construction site there is a host of electrical systems, half-completed piping as well as flammable materials and chemicals. 22,000 workplace fires occur annually within the UK, with 25% of these being caused by faulty or misused equipment.
While these types of injury may be one of the less common types of injuries sustained on a construction site, they can prove fatal.
To avoid a fire fuelled disaster make sure you report any potential fire hazard to the onsite manager or supervisor.
These are one of the most common causes of injury to construction site workers.
Injuries sustained by falls can be split into two categories. The first is a fall from height and the second is a fall on the same level, also known as slips and trips. Approximately 26% of all reported injuries in the Construction sector in recent years have been due to slips, trips and falls.
Unfortunately, the risk of falls, slips and trips come with the territory of working on a building site.
It’s not uncommon to find floor openings, incomplete roofs, and surfaces that don’t have strong support structures.
The reliance on ladders and scaffolding also increases the risk of falling.
Although falls are common, there are several measures that can be taken both by employers and employees to help minimise the risk of experiencing a fall.
These measures include:
Train employees on appropriate regulations and ensure that they are aware of health and safety measures.
Construction sites are filled with heavy machinery, vehicles and large, heavy materials.
Getting caught in or between any of the above can result in the worker getting crushed, and potentially fatally wounded.
Often these types of accidents occur when materials collapse onto someone, or a vehicle traps someone against a wall or a miscalculation results in a worker getting trapped inside a piece of heavy machinery.
The best way to avoid such accidents is to always be aware of your surroundings and follow any safety precautions that are suitable to the environment you’re in.
In order to minimise the risk of getting stuck employees should never:
Getting electrocuted on a construction site can have devastating effects.
It can lead to nerve damage, muscular contractions or spasms and in some cases, victims can suffer cardiac arrest.
However, one of the most common injuries sustained on construction sites as a result of electrocution are burn injuries – these could be either electrical or thermal burns.
Exposed wires or improper use of electrical gear can spell danger for both an individual and the wider workforce.
In order to reduce the risk of suffering an injury as a result of electrocution, employees should follow some basic safety measures including:
It is the duty of the construction company or site manager to ensure that the construction site remains safe for all workers, this includes guarding against electrocution.
Failure to do so could provide grounds to make a personal injury claim on the part of the employee.
Whilst the vast majority of accidents that involve being struck by an object are not malicious, the fact remains that they do happen.
Tools can slip out of workers hands and strike someone below, materials and debris can fall onto workers below and, no matter how small the object may be, if it falls from a great height it can cause serious injury.
This highlights the need for all construction site workers to wear a hard hat at all times.
As well as wearing a hard hat, workers can also try the following to help prevent ‘struck-by’ injuries:
Anyone who has worked on a construction site will tell you that it is physically demanding.
Whether you are lifting heavy materials in blistering heat, braving blustery conditions to ensure the job is finished or working overtime to ensure the deadline is met, working on a construction site can be tough.
Carrying out manual labour in all weather conditions can take a serious toll on a worker’s body.
Working in the sun for prolonged periods can result in heat stroke, which, in severe cases can lead to heart, brain or kidney damage.
Meanwhile carrying out construction work in the winter months always carries the risk of hypothermia or frostbite which can lead to workers losing their fingers or toes.
In order to combat the weather and tough conditions, it is the duty of the construction company to provide adequate protection. against the elements in the form of protective clothing, as well as regular breaks.
Trenches are often a necessity on building sites both big and small. They are often needed when laying the foundations of a building.
If a trench collapses it can cause catastrophic damage, both to the construction site and the workers caught up in the accident.
Trenches are often necessary on construction sites. If a trench collapses while a worker is working inside, they could get hit by the object that caused the trench to collapse, or by tools and materials. In more severe cases, they may get buried under the mud of the collapsed trench.
In a bid to prevent such accidents occurring, ensure the trench is fully supported and that the supports have been constructed properly.
Any defect in the support structure should be reported immediately.
Repetitive strain injuries occur as a result of a repetitive motion putting pressure on the body’s bones and muscles. These injuries can be caused by repeatedly carrying out activities such as lifting, screwing or sawing by hand, or operating heavy machinery like jack-hammers.
In order to prevent these types of injuries from happening, it’s important that regular breaks are taken and that any feelings of discomfort are reported to the line manager or site supervisor.
If you have suffered a workplace injury whilst working on a construction site and you believe the accident wasn’t your fault, our team of specialist accident at work solicitors can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Our personal injury team offer a free initial interview in order to assess the potential of your claim.
If you would like to speak to a member of our workplace injury team, or would like any more information about how we can help, call us for free on 0800 1979 345 or complete our online enquiry form by clicking here
