Some workers are safer from getting hurt at work than they are spending a day gardening at home. Construction workers, on the other hand, face real and present dangers every day they clock into work.
Because of these dangers, it’s vital for the safety of employees that they stay alert and cognizant of good safety practices throughout the day. When keeping their eyes open for on-the-job construction dangers like this, here are two important kinds of accidents workers need to avoid:
Equipment and tool accidents
Construction workers use power saws, drills, jackhammers, power sanders, hammers, screwdrivers, crowbars, shovels, knives, box cutters, scissors, posthole diggers and countless other tools to carry out their job duties. That said, these tools are dangerous and – even though they’re useful – they result in a lot of injuries.
Whenever using tools, workers need to follow the safety protocols that their employers taught them, or should have taught them. If you are a construction worker and you haven’t received appropriate safety training for the tools you’re using, reach out to your supervisor and ask how to safely use the items.
Crushing accidents and moving machinery accidents
Construction job sites may have a lot of large, moving machinery like forklifts, large trucks, cranes, backhoes, bulldozers, vehicles and many other pieces of machinery. When workers are navigating a construction site unprotected amongst large pieces of moving machinery, they can get crushed, struck or backed over quite easily.
It’s vital that all workers stay alert around large machinery, keep their distance and follow safety protocol in order to prevent potentially fatal crushing and striking accidents. The same goes for the operators of these machines.
Construction workers and workers’ compensation benefits
Following an unexpected on-the-job injury, state workers’ compensation benefits will be available to most injured workers. These benefits can help workers pay for their medical care, rehabilitation therapies and lost income. Also, for the family members of workers who died on the job, death benefits may be available to assist close family members and dependents to navigate the emotionally and financially difficult time following the loss of their loved one.