Tag Archive for: construction injury

Summer Workplace Hazards in Construction

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We are already well into summer, and some areas of the country have experienced record-breaking temperatures. In fact, the planet saw its hottest day on record in early July, with daily highs in Tucson reading 110 degrees and Tampa at 97 degrees. These are extreme temperatures, which can make outdoor activities like construction work even more hazardous.

Every year, construction workers become ill at their workplaces, and some even lose their lives due to extreme heat exposure. While an employer may have a job to do, worker safety is also a critical consideration. Here are some of the top summer workplace hazards in construction and how to address them.

1. Extreme Fatigue

Because many construction jobs require workers to perform manual labor, this can lead to extreme fatigue in the summer months. One of the biggest concerns with fatigue is that it can impair judgment and lead to other serious injuries.

Similar to drowsy driving, a fatigued worker will have slow reaction times, poor judgment, and impaired physical functioning. This can put the worker and others at risk.

To prevent these problems, workers are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and eat salty snacks to replenish lost sodium. They should avoid direct sunlight as much as possible and wear sun protection.

2. Dehydration

Dehydration happens when your body loses more water than it is taking in, resulting in you not having any reserves necessary for normal bodily functions. As you can imagine, this is dangerous. If not treated properly, dehydration can lead to death.

Construction workers can get busy on the job and forget to drink enough water. When it’s hot out, sweat also contributes to dehydration. Some of the symptoms of dehydration include:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Confusion
  • Fainting
  • Rapid breathing
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Little or no urination

To prevent dehydration, it’s important to take frequent hydration breaks at work. Some workers can have a hard time drinking water because it’s tasteless. Electrolyte beverages like Gatorade or Powerade can encourage regular consumption of fluids. But soda and coffee are not sufficient substitutes.

Employers should also educate workers on proper hydration outside of work to continue boosting electrolytes. And if there are any signs of dehydration, immediate assistance is necessary.

3. Heat Stroke

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that up to 70% of workplace fatalities occur while working in hot or warm environments. OSHA warms that heat-related illnesses are “medical emergencies.”

When a worker experiences heat stroke, their body is unable to cool down on its own. The body can reach temperatures as high as 106 degrees, which can be fatal.

One common sign of heat stroke is cramps, where the loss of water causes the muscles to painfully contract. If a worker is suffering from heat cramps, they should stop work immediately, rest in a shaded and cool place, and not resume activities until they feel better. Other common signs of heat stroke include:

  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Heavy sweating
  • Weakness
  • High body temperature

OSHA recommends only allowing new construction workers to perform their duties at full intensity for about 20% of the workday in the heat. If there is doubt about whether someone needs medical care, the best option is to call 911.

4. Sun Exposure

Too much exposure to the sun poses significant risks for construction workers. Hard hats do double duty by protecting a worker’s head from falling objects and offering sun protection. But what about the rest of your body?

The sun’s UV rays can harm your arms, legs, face, and eyes and impact the immune system. Any skin that is exposed to sunlight can be burned and even get blisters. This can also happen on cloudy days.

If possible, workers should be encouraged to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants while working. They should also wear eye protection and use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15.

5. Road Work Zones

According to NIOSH, nearly 20,000 workers are injured and 100 killed in work zones each year. In colder climates, road work accelerates in the summer months because it isn’t possible to do so during other parts of the year. For workers, however, this can be a dangerous situation.

Bright safety vests are critical. They provide visibility that can prevent collisions with heavy equipment. Workers must also be trained to identify work areas and use barriers to keep traffic out of work zones. Workers should also be educated bout additional traffic-related hazards.

What If You’ve Been Injured on a Construction Site?

If you’ve suffered a workplace injury on a construction site this summer, it’s important to understand that your employer has an obligation to provide a safe workplace that protects you from harm. Appropriate training and safeguards are vital parts of workplace preparedness. To learn more about protecting and asserting your rights, contact OSHA Injury Attorney directly.

 

Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Backing Construction Vehicles and Equipment at Roadway Construction Worksites

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Construction workers face numerous hazards on the job site. From the risk of falling objects to accidents involving heavy equipment and machinery, being a construction worker is one of the most dangerous jobs there is. While some accidents happen even when safety protocols are followed, most accidents and injuries are entirely preventable.

One type of accident that can be avoided when safety protocols are followed, and preventative measures are adopted is backup/backover accidents. Here’s what you need to know about the risk of reversing construction vehicles, how backover injuries happen and how they can be avoided, and what to do if you’re a worker who’s injured in a backover accident.

What Is a Backover Injury?

A backover injury occurs when a vehicle that is operating in reverse strikes a worker who is standing, walking, or kneeling behind the vehicle, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that these preventable accidents kill and injure dozens of workers each year.

How Backover Injuries Happen

There are numerous reasons that backover accidents happen, all of which are preventable. Some of the top causes of backover accidents include:

  • Blind spots. One of the most common causes of backover injuries is a worker being in a reversing driver’s blind spot. It’s always important for drivers to double-check blind spots and for workers to pay attention to vehicles.
  • Excessive noise. While vehicles are equipped with alarms that sound when they are operating in reverse, loud noises on a construction site may make it difficult for workers to hear these warnings.
  • Fall injuries. While less common, a worker may be injured by a reversing vehicle if they fall off the vehicle while it’s in motion. It’s important that workers are always properly secured within vehicles.
  • Failure to look. Some accidents occur simply because of the negligence of vehicle operators or workers on the ground. Failure to pay attention to surroundings, particularly any workers that may be in the pathway of a vehicle—reversing or otherwise—can be deadly.

Of course, the above are not the only causes of backover injuries. A combination of other factors can also lead to backover accidents, including things like driver negligence.

How to Prevent Backover Injuries & Deaths

OSHA recommends multiple actions that can be employed in the workplace to reduce the risk of backover injuries and deaths. These solutions include, but are not limited to:

  • Using a spotter to help when backing up vehicles
  • Using video cameras with in-vehicle display monitors
  • Installing proximity detection devices on vehicles
  • Installing tag-based systems that alert both drivers and employees on the ground when they come in close proximity to one another (i.e. when the on-the-ground employee comes near the vehicle)
  • Creating internal traffic control plans
  • Investing resources into employee training around traffic and vehicle safety
  • Conducting regular vehicle inspections to ensure that brake lights, reverse alarms, horns, and cameras are all working correctly.

What to Do If You’re Involved in a Backup Accident

If you are involved in a backup accident on the job, it’s important to understand your rights and know what actions you need to take next. Importantly, you should seek medical care immediately. If you require emergency care, go to the emergency room or call an ambulance—emergency care does not need to be approved by your workers’ compensation insurer first. If you require non-emergent care, be sure you seek care from a provider who’s approved by your workers’ compensation provider.

You also need to provide notice of the accident and injury to your employer as soon as possible. Your employer will be responsible for reporting the accident to your insurer. Note that you have the right to negotiate your workers’ compensation claim. In most cases, you will not have the right to sue your employer, even if the accident occurred due to employer negligence. If you need help navigating your workers’ compensation claim or understanding your rights, it is a good idea to meet with an OSHA Injury attorney.

Engage in Safe Practices at Work

As a construction worker, you face a number of risks every day you show up to work. You can reduce your risk of being involved in a backup accident by paying attention to your surroundings, communicating with vehicle operators, and understanding safety tips for preventing backover injuries and deaths. In the event that you are in a workplace backover accident, protect yourself by getting medical care, reporting your accident immediately, and seeking legal counsel.