Construction sites are very dangerous locations with a number of different hazards which employees must navigate. This causes the likelihood of a serious accident to be relatively high for construction workers. Those employed in the construction industry have to handle dangerous and difficult equipment, work with hazardous chemicals and unsafe materials, work on unstable or high surfaces with a minimum of safety restraints and be strong and physically resilient enough to contend with the physically challenging activities their work demands. Construction workers must be reasonably physically fit in order to cope with the stresses of their work and any physical or medical impairment can contribute to a construction accident.

Construction accidents can include motor vehicle accidents involving construction vehicles, explosions, electrical burns, falls and injuries from falling objects for just a few of the dangers and average constructive site presents . Additionally, negligent employers or other employees may fail to provide adequate safety precautions and features, and hazardous conditions such as uneven walkways or slippery surfaces can lead to simple yet potentially devastating slip and fall or trip and fall accidents.

Another painful result of working in the constructions trade may be repetitive strain injuries, which are caused by actions repeated over time and create structural imbalances in the body as well as strains or tears of the body’s connective tissue. Using a jackhammer or a pneumatic nail gun all day every day can easily cause permanent damage to joints and result in long-term or permanent disability. Additionally, the inhalation of or contact with hazardous chemicals or substances may not be considered ‘accidental’ but still can result in long-term damage to the health and quality of life of those exposed.

Clearly, construction accidents are serious and for that reason the government’s Health and Safety Commission has outlined strict safety regulations to ensure that construction sites are safe and healthy places to work. Construction site employers must follow a reasonable duty of care towards their employees and likewise construction employees are legally obligated to uphold a reasonable duty of care themselves. Simply said, construction workers must exercise common sense on the job.

For anyone unfortunate enough to have been the victim of a construction accident it is important to immediately document the injury and the cause of the injury and gather witnesses to the event. Report the incident to your foreman and visit a medical professional then contact an experienced construction accident lawyer to help you move forward with any claims.