Even when precautions are taken, some lines of work are just more inherently prone to accidents and resulting injuries than others. Injuries on construction sites are disturbingly common across the US. According to OSHA, one-fifth of all fatalities on the job happen in construction.
Common Worker Accidents on Construction Sites
A majority of these accidents happen in one of the categories that our industry calls the Fatal Four:
- Being caught in or between objects,
- Being struck by an object,
- Falling,
- Electrocution.
These injuries can happen to anyone on a construction site, worker or visitor alike. No matter how careful everyone is on a job site, unforeseen circumstances can turn a simple job into a deadly accident site, and complacency or tight deadlines make accidents all but inevitable.
Construction Job Site Injury: What to Do
If you’re a construction professional, what should you do if you are ever injured while working construction? Keep these five steps in mind.
1. Seek medical treatment immediately
Get any injury looked at by a professional as soon as possible, even if you think you can walk it off. There is always a chance that there may be deep and lingering injuries that will not make themselves apparent until later. Get a full evaluation by a medical professional, even when you think it’s “no big deal”. Trying to get workers compensation later, long after the injury, and trying to connect it back to the accident that caused it can be nearly impossible when medical treatment was not sought in a timely manner.
2. Notify your employer
Let your bosses know right away. The only thing that should delay you informing your supervisor is if you need urgent medical attention. Tell them what happened, do it in writing, and find out if you can receive workers’ compensation benefits. When you notify your employer, include as much detail as possible about the accident: what equipment was involved, who was around that might have witnessed the accident, what the circumstances were surrounding your injury. As much detail as possible, as soon as possible after the accident, will help to ensure that you get the benefits you are entitled to for your workplace injury.
3. Take pictures or video where it happened
Document everything. Take shots of the machinery or equipment that was involved in your injury. Document the state of the job site, and take clear photos of the injuries themselves. Photograph the clothing you were wearing. If anyone witnessed the injury, get their contact information. Get them to say on camera or on paper what happened, if they are willing to. Obviously, if the injuries are severe, medical attention should be your first priority, but after that you should focus on documenting the circumstances.
4. Keep receipts and accurate notes of all medical care
Write everything down, and keep thorough notes. Anything you buy at the store or the pharmacy to help with your recovery — keep receipts of all that as well. Keep all of your medical bills and records – don’t assume that you’ll be able to duplicate these again later from the doctor’s office.
5. Contact a personal injury attorney
Enlist the help of an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss if you may have a case to pursue. If you’ve paid any medical expenses or had any unpaid time off of work due to your injury, chances are that you are eligible for workers compensation benefits. Speak to an experienced accident injury lawyer to find out more about what you need to do to access your benefits.