For those who work on construction sites, there is often an attitude that promotes keeping your head down and doing your job without complaining. In and of itself, this is an admirable quality, but it can have unintended negative consequences. For instance, you or someone you love may have suffered a legitimate construction site injury and simply not know that they may qualify for compensation and treatment. It is important to know what kinds of injuries can occur on construction sites to determine if you have suffered such an injury already and keep you safer in the future.
Most injuries can be broadly broken down into two categories — single-occurrence injuries and cumulative injuries. A single-occurrence injury could be something like falling from a great height (especially if you work near or on scaffolding), or being struck by a falling object. Depending on the nature of your work site, you may also be at risk of being struck or burned by something exploding. Serious and slight injuries can occur if you are caught under large machinery or crushed between two moving things, such as a crane carrying a large palette of materials. You may also suffer injury because of construction equipment. This might mean you are cut while using a miter saw or nail gun on a work site.
Cumulative injuries are sneakier, and many people don’t even realize that they might qualify as workplace injuries. You may suffer from a repetitive motion injury that has damaged joints or specific muscles (such as those in your back and shoulders) because of ongoing strain. Similarly, working in hot conditions can put great strain on your internal organs. Another deceptively dangerous possibility is respiratory disease that develops over long-time exposure to elements on a work site.
All these injuries and more can occur in those who work on construction sites. if you believe you or someone you love has suffered a construction injury, then you deserve to have your experience professionally evaluated. With the guidance of an experienced attorney, you can explore your options for recovery and ensure that your rights remain protected.
Source: FindLaw, “Common Construction Injury Types,” accessed Jan. 24, 2017
