The Hidden Dangers and Neglected Protections in Construction

When construction workers get injured, they often need medical care and compensation. Unfortunately, many of these workers need to be more adequately supported by their contractors in times of need. The absence of proper support exacerbates the physical and financial burdens injured construction workers face.

(Photo : Pexels/ Nicholas Lim )

Construction Injury

According to Ryan Papariello, a safety and health specialist with the Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America, although the construction business is a dangerous industry, that does not mean that falls are entirely avoidable. Essential occupational health and safety protections, however, are not being followed or enforced in many instances where workers are injured or killed on the job.

As mentioned, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that employers provide workers with training and guardrails, harnesses, scaffolding, and personal safety gear when it is deemed appropriate. Additionally, employers must prevent workers from falling while on the job.

In December of the previous year, Antonio, a construction day laborer in Houston, Texas, assisted in removing fencing along a site coated in wooden planks with nails. His employer allegedly failed to provide adequate protection; therefore, his ankle became extremely distended after slipping and being struck just above the nail.

Antonio received hydrogen peroxide from the contractor after his injury, promising to seek medical help the next day. However, he ended up going to the emergency room alone due to a fever and persistent swelling. His condition was severe enough that doctors said delaying treatment further might have led to amputation below the knee.

After spending sixteen days in the hospital, the contractor contacted him, asking if he was ready to return to work. Accordingly, there was never a report of his injury to the appropriate authorities, and he was not compensated for the accident.

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Required Compensation and Assistance for Injured Construction Worker

Even though the government has long been trying to enforce safety measures, fatal injuries related to construction continue to exact a severe toll.

However, by including employees and supervisors in ongoing evaluation and prevention, safety management systems can provide the essential commitment to safety required to reduce workplace fatalities and injuries.

One of the most complicated economic sectors that presents unique difficulties in ensuring workers' health and safety is the building industry. Construction work encompasses the construction of buildings and the upkeep, repair, renovation, and demolition of residential and commercial structures, including commercial and apartment buildings.

Other infrastructure components, such as highways, tunnels, bridges, airports, and docks, are also included in larger-scale construction projects. For instance, healthcare facilities are enormous buildings that fall under this category.

Each task exposes the worker to hazardous circumstances, not just the dangers inherent to their employment but also the risks that other employees pose. In addition, construction workers are employed in an exceptionally dynamic workplace. Construction necessitates the physical change of the site, and each new stage of the project brings with it a new set of materials, technologies, labor methods, and occupational hazards.

Furthermore, a type of insurance known as workers' compensation, workman's compensation, or workers' comp is established to safeguard the interests of employers and their personnel in the case of a catastrophic or severe work-related illness or injury.

The insurer assists in the form of reimbursement for non-punitive damages such as wage replacement, medical care, vocational rehabilitation, burial expenses, and other similar expenses.

During a period in which a worker may be suffering from a significant or catastrophic injury, they safeguard the worker from the devastating loss of income that such loss could cause.

Remember that receiving workers' compensation waives your future right to file a negligence claim against your employer. Therefore, before proceeding with a workers' compensation claim, you must collect and evaluate the appropriate information.

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