Of all the places that pose a great danger to human lives, construction sites stand out to be one of the few on the top of this list. Construction is a very injury prone industry,however not all workers in this industry have disability insurance. As per research performed by the Safe Work Australia, the people working at construction sites are four times more probable to not be able to work as a result of injuries sustained at their place of work.This in itself denotes the frequency and severity of the injury faced by the victims.
To have a better understanding of risks, let us have a look at the basics of the injury one can suffer at the site.
What does “construction site injury” mean?
Any kind of injury that is sustained by a worker at the place of construction falls under the definition of construction place injuries. Due to the high risk work those in construction need to perform, and the tools and equipment required to perform it, some injuries can become quite serious and even fatal.
Some of the most common injuries or medical conditions workers come across on site include:
- Heat strokes
- Amputations
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Toxic Exposure
- Whiplash Injury
- Fractures
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Chronic Joint / Muscle Condition
- Respiratory ailments
- Sprains/Strains
The causes of the injury will vary from site to site so vigilance at all times is key in order to prevent them. One of the more common factors that contribute to injury is the site itself, where structures are improperly erected. Another major player in causing injury is the misuse of tools and machinery. The environment should also be considered as poor air quality where dust or chemicals are present can lead to ongoing ailments such as respiratory issues.
What is the probability of getting hurt at construction sites?
As per the Work-Related Injury Survey that was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the data regarding injuries sustained by each category of workers while working at construction place are:
- Drivers and Machine Operators – Every 88 of 1000 people employed.
- Trade Workers and Technicians– Every 72 of 1000 employed workers.
- Labourers – Every 66 of 1000 employed persons.
- Community and Personal Service Workers – Every 73 of 1000 individuals that are employed.
This is a regularly conducted survey which records the breakdown of operation groups along with injuries.
What can be done in the case of a Construction Site Injury?
The worker at the place of construction should be well informed by his/her employer about the policies regarding injuries suffered by workers at the place of work. This information should be easily accessible to all workers and must be easy to follow and understand. The policies that deal with injuries should require the injury to be reported to a higher authority within some specified span of time. This professional liability will help in maintaining a record of all the injuries. Also, it will assist the victim in terms of medical support and disability pension, if the need arises.
Just in case your employer has not taken genuine actions either to prevent the incident from occurring or to right the wrong that has taken place, the worker can seek legal advice from a good workers compensation lawyer available at their disposal.
Can we avoid injuries ?
While there is no sure-fire way of avoiding workplace injury, there are methods you can take to lower the probability of them occurring. One can always avoid or reduce the risk of injury by following the rules and procedures as are mentioned in the manual of construction sites. For safety, one must wear the right PPE, bean alert and active worker at the site and communicate any damage to the authority concerned.