Construction Site Accident Attorneys in Olathe, KS

Are injuries common in the construction industry?

If your answer to this question was “yes,” then you would be correct. The Center for Construction Research and Training reported that nearly 80,000 construction workers reported injuries in 2019. (Since government and self-employed workers were not included, the number is likely higher.) The same year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that the construction industry accounted for one in every five worker deaths. Construction has become known as the deadliest industry.

What are common causes of injuries on Olathe construction sites?

Construction workers and site visitors can be injured in a number of ways. the most common causes of serious construction site injuries are:

• Falls from heights: Construction workers must be provided with additional gear when they are working up high, such as body harnesses. They also have additional training on the proper way to work from heights. In the event that a construction worker falls from a higher story, they may not survive.
• Electrical hazards: Construction workers can be exposed to wires and power lines, posing an electrocution risk. Flash arc accidents can happen, which are caused when an electrical current travels through the air, posing a burn and/or electrocution risk.
• Trench collapse: During construction, workers will need to use trenches to gain access to the underground to bury electrical wires, work on plumbing and have access to other underground areas. If a trench collapses a construction worker can become stuck underneath it. If they are not rescued, they can die from asphyxiation. In other cases, they may fall into a trench and be injured.
• Fires and explosions: When you work construction, you’re around gas lines, flammable chemicals, and demolition gear all the time. A fire can easily break out. If there are enough chemicals, it could cause an explosion.
• Unsafe entrances to/exits from the site: A construction site can be chaotic with various vehicles, mainly trucks, entering and exiting the worksite. If the truck driver is not paying attention, they can hit or run over construction workers or collide with vehicles passing by the entrance/exit.
• Falling objects: People are constantly moving heavy materials and power tools on construction sites. A worker can be critically or even fatally injured if one of these objects falls from a scaffold or crane and hits the worker.
• Exposure to loud noises: When construction workers are exposed to loud noises on a constant basis this can lead to hearing problems, which in turn can lead to communication problems – and that can affect every part of a person’s life. An unexpected loud noise can also distract workers from the task at hand which can lead to them being injured.

Other risks posed to workers include exposure to dangerous chemicals, heavy machinery, and power tool accidents. If you have been injured in any way, you want to contact an Olathe construction site accident attorney as soon as you can.