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What Are the Top Causes of Injuries and Deaths Among Construction Workers?
Recently, an employee was killed while attempting to repair a Bronx recycling plant. The 47-year-old man was sent to fix a bulldozer. As he worked, he was struck by the excavator bucket at New York Recycling. Sadly, the Guatemala native was crushed from the torso up and medical crews were unable to save him. It is still unclear what caused the bucket to collapse. The location of the incident was reported not to be an active construction site, but heavy machinery is used there daily. Our NYC construction accident lawyers discuss the prevalence of construction-related accidents and the causes of such accidents below.
Construction Injuries Continue to Occur at High Rates
The construction industry is notoriously dangerous, and even with increased attempts at regulating the industry to promote safety, accident rates remain high. Every day, 14 construction workers will die of work-related injuries across the country, as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Construction deaths amount to over 20 percent of all worker deaths nationwide. The dangers in the industry stem from the heavy equipment involved, heights, electricity, and other hazards.
Top Causes of Construction Accidents
There are several common causes of construction accidents. They include:
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- Falls: Falls are the number one cause of construction-related deaths, causing nearly 40 percent of all deaths in the industry. Falls can occur when employees do not use proper fall safety equipment or supervisors fail to ensure employees have this equipment available and in use.
- Struck by object: Construction sites often hold heavy objects and equipment that must be raised to heights. About 80 people a year die from being struck by falling objects at construction sites, amounting to eight percent of all construction-related deaths.
- Electrocutions: Working around electrical lines leaves workers at risk. About 71 construction workers per year die by electrocution and many more are injured.
- Crush accidents: Crush accidents occur when a worker is caught in or compressed by equipment or related construction objects. This type of injury causes about 50 deaths per year.
Construction workers injured on the job or the loved ones of those killed may be able to seek compensation through New York’s Labor Laws. While workers’ compensation generally covers workplace injuries, serious accidents may give rise to a lawsuit based on the negligence of the contractor, subcontractor, site owner, architect, machine manufacturer, and others. Contact our NYC construction accident attorneys for more information about your potential case.