According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 17.6% of 4,188 worker fatalities in 2011 occurred in the construction industry. Over a third of these construction-related deaths resulted from a fall, with a significant percentage caused by electrocution or falling objects.
Construction is inherently dangerous work, but it doesn’t have to be fatal. By following some of these safety tips, you can protect yourself and your fellow workers at the job site.
Although falls are the number one cause of construction site deaths, they can be prevented. Any time that you know you’ll be working on a scaffold or an elevated platform, be sure that you’re wearing a body harness. For extra protection, you should also ensure that there is also a properly installed safety net below you.
In elevated work spaces, you should also remove unnecessary equipment and machinery from your work area. This not only reduces the chance of a fall, but also ensures that no objects will fall and strike a fellow worker on the job site.
Ladder and stairway injuries are also a common occurrence in the construction industry. OSHA reports indicate that nearly 25,000 workers are injured from falls of this nature, with almost half of those workers requiring recovery time away from work.
Before using any ladder, you should inspect it carefully for structural damage, such as bent side rails and missing or loose rungs. If you spill paint or any other slippery material on the ladder, take the time to clean it right away. It’s also important to note the maximum capacity of a ladder; even if you don’t exceed the weight limit, check to see if any equipment you’re using exceeds the weight capacity.
As one of Atlanta’s top-rated personal injury law firms, Pope & Howard, P.C. can provide knowledgeable, legal counsel to those injured on the job. If you or someone you love has been severely injured at a construction site, contact Pope & Howard, P.C. at (404) 885-9999.