Working at a construction site exposes people to any number of dangers. One report suggests that a person is injured at a construction job site approximately every seven seconds in the United States.

Construction work is always dangerous due to massive vehicles, machinery weighing several tons, falling debris, and exposed electrical wires being a common occurrence. Construction site accidents often result in serious physical injuries causing long hospital stays, bed rest, and significant medical treatment expenses.

Being a construction worker, you need to know how dangerous construction accidents and injuries can be. After facing an accident at the construction site, you may not know how to proceed with a personal injury lawsuit.

Common Construction Site Injuries

According to the reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than half of workplace falls happen at construction sites. Construction site accidents account for the highest number of annual fatalities compared to any other sector.

However, the trend highlights that in the year 2009 construction fatalities reduced by 16% in comparison to 2008. Let’s take a brief look at some of the catastrophic injuries that happen at the construction sites.

Some of the construction site injuries that may be much more prevalent as compared to others are discussed as follows:

• Head Injury:

Large construction vehicles and machinery, such as excavators and bulldozers, are constantly moving debris on construction sites. If a single piece of heavy material falls on someone’s head, it is likely to cause severe injury or death. If you are lucky enough to live, you will surely incur hefty medical expenses. A traumatic brain injury may cause you physical, emotional, and financial harm the rest of your life.

• Spinal Cord Injury:

Crushing accidents can cause severe spinal injury. This type of injury occurs when someone is squeezed between heavy objects, such as a collapsed wall or scaffolding. Spinal injuries may also occur through normal duties over time, such as lifting heavy objects. We have to be as cautious about our spine as we are about the head. Physical disabilities with severe medical conditions are the result of spinal cord injuries.

• Heatstroke and Frostbite:

There is no such thing as virtual construction work. To work in construction, you have to be physically present at the construction site. Regardless of whether it is raining, snowing, or at high temperatures, you are expected to be there. Exposure to high temperatures over a long time can cause heat stroke. Hundreds of workers at a construction site die from heatstroke every year.

The safest way to avoid heatstroke is to step out of the heat from time to time to cool off and remain well hydrated with water. Alternatively, those who work on construction sites in northern climates during the winter could experience frostbite. Frost bite can lead to the loss of the extremities, such as noses, feet, and hands.

• Broken Bones Or Fracture:

When it comes to head and spinal injuries, there are specific situations where you know to remain hyper vigilant; however, when it comes to broken bones and fractures, there are an endless number of ways to hurt oneself on a construction site. Tripping on the ground due to carelessly discarded debris and other materials or falling from a ladder is just a couple of accidents that lead to bone breaks and fractures. A serious break can leave one impaired for life.