California Construction Accident Law Firm

Common Types of Construction Accidents

Here are some of the most common types of accidents that occur on construction sites:

• Falls: A lot of construction work is done above ground level. Because of this, workers face the risk of falling - often from a fatal height. Construction companies must supply workers with adequate training and safety equipment to prevent falls.


• Scaffolding Accidents: Scaffolding and other structural supports are, by nature, temporary. Thus, they are less sturdy than permanent support structures, and therefore more likely to collapse. Scaffolding collapses can occur due to the negligence of the company that installed or maintained them or as a result of defective materials.


• Crane Accidents: Cranes are known to be highly dangerous. Construction companies must secure special insurance, bonds, and permits to operate them because of these known dangers. Workers who are injured in crane accidents are entitled to compensation.


• Slip and Fall Accidents: Construction sites almost always have uneven ground littered with nails, rebar, wood scraps, and other debris. These building materials and unsteady walkways can cause slip and fall injuries. Such injuries are prevalent during times of low visibility: at night, during inclement weather, and any time the worksite does not have adequate lighting.


• Fires: Fires break can out on construction sites for many reasons. Sometimes there are flammable materials on the site that have not been properly stored. Other times, utility lines are not secured or appropriately connected, leading to electrical fires or fires caused by gas leaks.
  
  (Improper utility connections can also lead to gas inhalation, electrocution, and other serious injuries.) If the site does not have proper fire abatement procedures, the scope of damage and injuries from a fire can become quite devastating.


• Defective Machinery: Construction workers who are injured on the job often have a workers' compensation claim against their employer. But they might also have a products liability claim against the manufacturer of a defective product that injured them. For example: if a large backhoe has faulty brakes, the operator might not be able to stop it in time to avoid injuries.
  
  Or perhaps the construction company issued safety goggles to its employees, but they had defective straps, and the construction workers suffered eye injuries as a result. Defective machinery and products can cause injuries in construction accidents.


• Exposure to Toxic Substances: The construction industry has a high rate of worker exposure to toxic substances. A considerable number of building materials contain substances that can be toxic - especially when a worker is exposed to them over the course of months or years. Drywall, insulation, particleboard, caulk, paint, and many other substances can irritate the eyes, ears, throat, and lungs.
  
  Some of these substances can cause long-term health complications or chronic conditions such as asthma to develop. Some even cause cancer. Workers are entitled to compensation for the injuries they suffer as a result of exposure to toxic substances on the job site.