The Most Common Causes of Construction Injuries
By Darwin F. Johnson on September 20th, 2017 in Atlanta Workers Comp, Catastrophic Workplace Injury, Macon Workers Comp, Savannah Worker's Comp, Workers Compensation
If you work in construction, you know that high safety standards are crucial to making sure that no one is injured on the job. However, even in the most careful of workplaces, accidents regularly happen, but on a construction site, even a minor accident can mean that you’re unable to work.
If you’ve been injured on a construction site and sustained one of these common injuries, Atlanta workers’ comp lawyers could be able to help you get the settlement that you need to focus on your recovery, not your missed wages and medical bills. The most common causes of injury on a construction site include:
- Falling from heights. Not surprisingly, the most common cause of injuries on the construction site comes from falling from high places. This can include collapsed scaffolding. Though OSHA has strict requirements to help keep scaffolding safe, an accident can mean a worker falling anywhere from 10 to 100 feet.
- Electric shocks. Working on a construction site often requires working with high-voltage power tools and equipment. Machinery that has cables that are not rated for water usage can electrocute workers who touch them should they get wet, and even proper usage can cause serious electrical burns if you are not wearing the proper safety equipment when handling heavy machinery.
- Repetitive motion injuries. Not all construction injuries require a drastic fall or other dramatic accident. Sometimes, when a job needs to be done, you are forced to work overtime and strain your muscles and ligaments by performing repetitious actions that your body is not able to handle. Over a long period of time, these stressors can accumulate and cause permanent damage.
If you’ve been injured working in construction or any other field, know your rights under Georgia law. An Atlanta workers comp lawyer can help you navigate your claim and determine if you are entitled to compensation from your workplace.