Construction is a very dangerous profession. People working in a variety of construction careers may have to deal with dangerous equipment, heavy machinery, inclement weather on the job site and many more potential risks that can result in either debilitating injuries or death.
However, the single biggest risk on the job site for a construction worker is the risk of a fall. A worker can suffer severe injuries in a fall while working on a residential home or a high-rise condominium project. Such falls can often produce career-ending injuries or at least leave a worker unable to get back to the job for many weeks.
Most workplace falls in construction are preventable
There are many factors that influence the likelihood of a serious fall on a construction site. These factors include the following:
- Safety training provided to staff
- The safety equipment available on the site, including harnesses
- How the company responds to severe weather
- Cutting corners on shorter buildings that don’t have legal requirements for fall safety restraints
In addition to reporting a fall as soon as it happens and seeking medical care for the injuries the worker suffered, you may also want to look into whether your employer complied with all necessary federal and state safety practices prior to the incident.
Most construction workers who get hurt by a fall on the job will have grounds to seek workers’ compensation benefits. Even in cases where a worker who serves as a contractor may not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, it may be possible to hold the employer accountable for their contribution to the incident.
