3 Hazards that Cause Construction Accidents
Construction Accident,In the News,Personal Injury,Work Injury,Workers' Compensation - September 17, 2014 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
Every job brings with it a unique set of hazards. Of course, some are worse than others.
Desk jobs can induce carpal tunnel syndrome and strain the eyes, whereas linemen work at death-defying heights every day. Construction work consistently ranks high on lists of the most dangerous because employees face an incredibly large number of hazards on the job. We’ve listed three of the top hazards that cause accidents on building sites.
If you’ve been injured while working construction in Illinois, you’re probably looking for a construction injury lawyer to help you find the compensation you need to pay for time off of work and for medical bills. At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we are a team of construction-industry experts, and you can count on us to fight for compensation. To learn more about our services, please call us at (800)-985-1819.
Berm and Trench Cave-ins
When most people think about construction work, they imagine nails and hammers, but digging trenches is a large part of most construction projects. The same is true for building dirt berms.
These are dangerous jobs because even small miscalculations on the angles of the trench walls can lead to a collapse. In the event of a cave-in, hundreds of pounds of soil can bury unfortunate workers.
FOX News reports that two construction workers are lucky to be alive after a berm collapses on their heads while they were working under a highway overpass. It took firefighters 20 minutes to reach the men; both survived the incident but required hospitalization.
Toxic Chemicals
Construction workers often handle hazardous chemicals, and small mistakes can easily put lives in jeopardy. KTVB News reports that two workers died after inhaling toxic fumes while building a new sewage system.
Bo Taylor, a 19-year-old worker, was working below a manhole cover when he passed out and began to drown in the shallow water. His coworker, Trent Sorenson, had asthma but heroically attempted to save Taylor. However, the fumes overpowered the pair.
Emergency crews took them both to the hospital in critical condition, and both passed away later that day. A preliminary investigation suggests that a PVC liner reacted with a sealant and caused the fumes.
Noise
Believe it or not, the loud noises on construction sites can cause serious injuries and even death. This is because when an accident is in progress, coworkers may not be able to hear shouts for help.
Amarillo Globe-News reports that this is the situation that put a worker in the hospital last week. Authorities say an asphalt roller began to slowly run over a worker, and the noise from the worksite prevented the driver from hearing the man’s shouts for help. The worker is alive, but he suffered very serious internal injuries in the accident.
If you are looking for a construction injury lawyer, call us. We’ve been fighting for clients’ rights since 1924. To arrange a consultation with a personal injury attorney in Chicago, call us at (800) 985-1819.
