Construction workers in New York face many types of risk daily. If you are considering becoming one of these trained professionals, consider the different types of possible injuries before making a career move. Construction workers die annually from four main types of injuries.
Falls
Across the United States, about 1,000 construction workers die annually, and about 37% of those deaths are caused by a fall. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, unprotected openings cause some fatalities, and others are caused by improper use of portable ladders. Finally, the agency says that the third reason for construction workers’ injuries is unsafe scaffolding.
Struck by an object
Many construction sites have numerous workers doing different tasks, which can lead to workers being struck by objects when not paying attention. Other times, things can suddenly shift during construction, often without warning. Vehicles are frequently moved across job sites and can hit workers. These injuries account for about 15.3% of all construction workers’ fatalities.
Caught in-between hazards
Caught in and between accidents happen in various ways. For example, a worker can be caught by the moving arm of a crane or between a machine and a fixed object. In some cases, cave-ins trap workers or cause toxic fumes to be released into the environment. Other times, workers can be pulled into the machinery they use.
Electrocution
Many construction sites use a lot of electricity to complete projects. More than 50% of electrocutions were caused by contact with live electrical equipment and wiring. Construction workers can contact live wires overhead or buried in the ground, and most of these contacts were by workers receiving inadequate training.
Construction workers can die in many ways on the job, including falling, being struck by an object, getting trapped or being electrocuted.