When people think about what people in the construction industry need to perform their jobs, many often mention a ladder, hammer and nails. Some construction workers have to use heavy equipment to perform their roles though. This type of machinery can endanger their lives.
Data compiled by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) shows that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among construction workers. Heavy equipment or machinery failure take second and third place.
Some of the most dangerous pieces of heavy equipment include bulldozers, excavators, cranes and backhoes.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows that at least 800 of the 4,000 construction worker fatalities in 2016 were caused by bulldozers. One of the reasons why they are so dangerous is because they’re both strong and heavy. Most bulldozer accidents are caused by construction workers getting run over by or crushed inside or beneath it.
Excavators and backhoe loaders are similar to one another in that they both come equipped with digging buckets. They allow construction workers to break ground, retrieve materials and carry them elsewhere.
Construction workers that use these pieces of equipment have to worry about their machinery becoming top-heavy or the bucket getting stuck and this leading the unit to topple over. Construction workers also have to worry about striking live power lines and getting electrocuted.
Cranes are also dangerous. CPWR data shows that at least 632 U.S. construction workers lost their lives while using this equipment in between 1992 and 2006. Two reasons why crane operators get hurt is because the machine collapses or the load comes loose. The construction workers that operate these cranes aren’t the only ones at risk for getting hurt or killed. Bystanders often get hurt in these types of incidents too.
Construction work isn’t easy. Your foreman is probably always trying to push your limits. They may try to get you to use a piece of equipment differently or to add more weight to your load. What they don’t seem to care about are the repercussions of pushing your boundaries. This can end up with you hurt or killed.
Fortunately, an attorney can help you recover compensation for medical costs and other expenses if you were hurt on the job here in Brooklyn. Let your lawyer advise you on how to hold others accountable for their negligent actions in your New York case.