3 Most Common Construction Site Accidents and How to Prevent Them

Construction site accidents are a lot more common than you probably realize. In fact, according to the Occupation and Safety Health Administration, there are around 150,000 construction site accident injuries each year in the US.

What are the most common types of injuries? And, what can you do to prevent them?

Check out this guide to learn everything you need to know about construction site injuries.

1. Falls

Falls are undoubtedly the most common type of construction site injuries. There are two types of falls: falls from the same level (aka, tripping and slipping), and falls from heights. Falls from heights are the leading cause of construction fatalities.

Between floor and roof openings and scaffolds and ladders, fall hazards are an unfortunate reality of construction sites. Luckily, there’s a lot that you can do to prevent falls, including:

  • Keeping work areas well lit
  • Wearing the right fall-protection gear, such as helmets, guard rail systems, and safety net systems
  • Maintaining clean and tidy work areas
  • Wearing footwear with good traction

You also need to make sure you’re following safety regulations for roofs, scaffolds, and ladders.

2. Getting Caught In or Between Something 

Getting caught in or between something is another very common construction site accident.

When working with heavy equipment and machinery, workers are at risk of getting their bodies crushed, squeezed, pinched, or compressed between two or moe objects. There are cases where a vehicle traps a worker against a wall, a material collapses on a worker, or a worker’s body part gets pulled into machinery.

Staying aware of your surroundings and following proper guarding guidelines is the best way to prevent this type of accident. You should also avoid:

  • Placing your body parts or hands near moving objects
  • Working inside an excavation site with water accumulation
  • Wearing long-sleeve shirts, gloves, jewelry, or other apparel that can get caught in moving parts

Also, make sure you never place yourself between a heavy piece of equipment and an immovable object.

3. Being Struck By an Object 

There’s also the chance of being struck by an object while working a construction job.

Oftentimes, this happens when a tool or piece of equipment falls from a higher level and strikes a worker. Luckily, most of these injuries can be prevented by wearing hardhats, safety glasses, and other protective equipment. Staying alert and aware of your surroundings can also help prevent this type of accident.

Here are some other things you can do to prevent being struck by an object:

  • Don’t position yourself between fixed and moving objects
  • Stay clear of suspended or lifted loads
  • If your rearview is obstructed, don’t drive a vehicle in reverse
  • Stack materials properly

As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do to prevent this type of accident. If you get hurt in this type of accident, you may need to file worker’s compensation and hire a worker’s comp lawyer. You can check out this guide to learn the top tips for finding the best lawyer.

Time to Prevent These Construction Site Accidents 

As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do to prevent construction site accidents. Putting these tips into action will protect both you and your workforce.

Be sure to check back in with our blog for more safety tips and tricks.