Construction Accident

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, Michael Schreyer understands the inherent dangers workers may encounter in a construction-related job. Frequently recognized as one of the most dangerous industries to work in, there are an alarming 150,000 construction site accident injuries each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reports that there were a total of 4,547 fatal work injuries in 2010, 751 of which occurred in the construction industry.

With the high amount of construction-related fatalities and injuries happening each year, safety at a construction site is imperative as it may help prevent a serious accident. The following are six common construction site hazards for workers to be aware of and solutions for each:

1. Slippery surfaces: Immediately clean up any liquid spills, and make sure sand or another slip-resistant material is applied to an icy walking surface to prevent a dangerous slip and fall.
2. Lighting: Adequate lighting is essential to being safe at a construction site, so if you are having difficulty seeing at work, be sure to let someone know as soon as possible; most construction areas require a minimum of five foot candles.
3. Scaffolding: Elevated working surfaces must be fully planked with toe boards, hand rails, and mid rails installed. Workers should never climb the outside of a scaffold; ladders should be used at all times.
4. Electrical panels: Panels and boxes should have a cover in place to prevent electrical shock.
5. Eye protection: Wearing proper eye protection, such as safety glasses and a face shield, while working can help prevent an eye-related injury due to a task that creates flying particles, like cutting or grinding.
6. Step ladders: These are a major source for construction accidents, so make sure ladders are properly maintained and in good condition. Remove broken or damaged ladders from service right away.

Construction accidents can cause serious, if not life-threatening, injuries. If you are a Maryland worker who has been injured in a construction accident caused by the negligence of another party, Waldorf construction accident attorney Michael Schreyer of the personal injury law firm of Alpert Schreyer can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. To discuss your case, call (800) 489-1577 to schedule a free consultation.

The construction industry is one of the more dangerous fields an individual can work in, but not only because of the great risk of physical injury from construction site hazards. Health-related issues for construction workers are also a very serious problem, and knowing what the more common illnesses are can help workers be aware of any potentially harmful ailments. Below is information on five construction-related health risks:

1. Asbestos: The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illness, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Any designer or contractor should be familiar with any materials that contain asbestos before building, and any building built before the year 2000 may contain asbestos, so it is important to know everything about the structure before you disturb asbestos in the site.
2. Dermatitis: Contact dermatitis is the inflammation of skin that can arise from contact with certain materials, and symptoms can include anything from dryness to itching skin. All construction workers that have contact with harmful substances are at risk for this.
3. Respiratory disease: Construction-related respiratory diseases can include a wide range of illnesses which are made worse by breathing in hazardous substances that damage the lungs. Examples include occupational asthma or silicosis, an irreversible lung disease.
4. Noise: Frequent and regular exposure to loud noise can permanently damage a person’s hearing. This can also create a safety risk if it prevents a worker from communicating effectively or being able to hear warning signals.
5. Stress: As the construction industry is a very demanding field, both mentally and physically, work-related stress can cause anxiety and depression. These psychological issues may make it difficult for someone to perform effectively at his or her job, which can be dangerous in a safety-critical field.

Any of these health-related problems can endanger the health and well-being of a construction worker, so it is the employer’s responsibility to create a safe working environment and educate his or her employees on how to properly use safety equipment and avoid potentially dangerous injuries and health risks. However, if an employer is negligent and fails to protect employees, the consequences could be catastrophic. The Annapolis construction accident lawyers with the law firm of Alpert Schreyer can help Maryland workers who have been injured on the job obtain compensation for injuries. Call (800) 489-1577 for a no-cost consultation on your injury claim.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are more than 6 million people who work at the more than 250,000 construction sites across the country on any given day. With the large amount of individuals working in the construction industry, it is imperative to understand the potential hazards they face on a daily basis and for employers to implement solutions to prevent workplace accidents.

Below is a list of potential hazards for construction workers and possible solutions for each:

• Falls: Falls account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry. To help prevent this, cover floor holes, use safety net systems or body harnesses, and utilize guardrail systems to protect workers near the edge of floors and roofs.
• Scaffolding collapse: Millions of workers each year suffer due to this type of accident. To try and prevent scaffolding collapse, scaffolds must be located 10 feet away from electrical power lines, must be rigid, sound, and able to carry four times its own weight, and must be equipped with guardrails, midrails, and toeboards.
• Cranes: For prevention of serious injuries from crane accidents, never move a load over workers, check crane controls for proper operation before use, inspect the crane routinely for damage, and know the weight load maximum before use.
• Failure to use proper personal equipment: Educating workers on proper personal safety equipment is extremely important in preventing construction site accidents. Examples include: eye and face protection (safety glasses or face shields), hand protection (gloves should fit snugly), head protection (hard hats should be worn and routinely inspected), and foot protection (work shoes and boots should be slip and puncture resistant).
• Trench collapse: To prevent the dozens of injuries and fatalities that occur from trench collapses, never enter an unprotected trench, make sure trenches are inspected, design protective systems for trenches 20 feet deep or more, and always provide a way to exit a trench.

Construction site accidents affect millions of workers each year and the possible injuries and fatalities that may occur can be devastating. The Maryland construction accident lawyers of Alpert Schreyer can help if you have been injured in a workplace accident that was caused due to an employer’s negligence. Please call (800) 489-1577 for a no-cost consultation.

In a second incident at the same construction site, an accident at the building site for a Maryland casino led to one death and one serious injury on July 29, 2011. One of the construction workers was hospitalized with critical injuries and the other was pronounced dead at the scene. The Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration is involved in the investigation. Just 14 days earlier, a construction worker suffered injuries when a block of concrete fell on his head.

Construction workers face a number of hazards each time they set foot on a job site. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that 816 construction workers died on the job in 2009. Those deaths account for a full 19 percent of all work-related fatalities for that year. Construction workers face special challenges in protecting themselves from harm, as they face environmental hazards and use dangerous equipment on a daily basis. Abrasive blasting, exposure to asbestos and chemical fumes, working at heightened elevations, excavation work and dozens of other hazards put construction workers at risk. Aggressive and distracted drivers also pose a risk for construction workers who perform bridge construction and road repair projects.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicates that most fatalities occur in the same four categories: electrocution, getting caught between heavy objects, falls and getting struck by objects. Following proper safety precautions and using safety equipment correctly can help prevent fatalities on injuries on the job site.

Construction accidents cause serious financial and emotional hardship for victims and their families. At Alpert Schreyer, LLC our construction accident lawyers in Maryland have experience handling construction accident cases and know the laws that affect the outcome of these cases. If you suffered an injury as the result of negligence, let us review your case for free. Call our firm at 301-932-9997 for a confidential consultation.