Due to the nature of their work, construction workers often face the risk of on-site injuries. When accidents occur, workers typically rely on workers' compensation insurance provided by their employers to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs.
(Photo : Pexels/Mikael Blomkvist)
Common Types of Injuries in Construction
Collapsed Scaffolding
Even though the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established stringent regulations to guarantee the safety and stability of scaffolding, accidents can still occur, resulting in a worker falling and suffering catastrophic injuries or even dying.
Electric Shock
Electrical burns are a potential hazard for construction workers, who frequently come into contact with hazardous materials such as generators, power equipment, machinery, and electrical wires.
Failure to Use Appropriate Protective Gear
To avoid getting hurt on a construction site, you should always wear personal protection equipment, such as hard hats, safety glasses, and other items.
Falling
Falls are among the most common forms of injuries that occur in the construction industry. People who work in construction can fall from roofs, platforms, cranes, ladders, and other high places. These can cause shattered bones, back injuries, and permanent disability.
Equipment-Related Accidents
There is a risk of failure or injury when using heavy mechanized equipment on construction sites. Using power tools can result in serious accidents if the equipment is defective or the operator needs proper training. Fatalities, severe lacerations, or even amputations may result from these incidents. Thus, workers' compensation is essential in these circumstances because it can assist in covering medical expenses and missed pay.
Also Read: Home Construction Slumps Amidst Housing Shortage Crisis in US
Compensation for On-Site Injuries
Employees who get injuries or illnesses while on the job are eligible for workers' compensation, a type of insurance that ensures they receive medical benefits, pay replacement, and disability benefits. Workers' compensation insurance protects most construction workers, irrespective of guilt. However, the worker is still eligible for payments under workers' compensation even if their activities contributed to the harm that they sustained.
Moreover, medical expenses, including hospitalization, prescriptions, rehabilitation, and elective procedures, are customarily covered by workers' compensation benefits. Workers who get hurt on the job may also get benefits to help them pay their bills while temporarily or permanently disabled. They may also get help with vocational retraining to get them back to work.
Seek the advice of an attorney if your compensation claim is denied by the workplace or your worker's compensation insurance company or if the payment of benefits is delayed. To ensure that you receive the benefits you are legally entitled to, an attorney can review the claim's specifics, evaluate the grounds for rejection or delay, and advocate for your rights.
On the other hand, employees who sustain accidents while working in construction must immediately inform their employer of their injuries and seek medical treatment as soon as feasible. If an injury is promptly reported, the employee's eligibility for benefits could be protected.
When an injury sustained on the job leads to disagreements or issues about the workers' compensation claim, injured workers may benefit from obtaining legal assistance from a workers' compensation attorney with extensive experience in the field.
Related Article: 8 Safety Tips to Avoid the Most Common Accidents and Injuries in Construction
