How Can Construction Accidents Be Prevented?

By Peter DePaolis
Attorney

About 5,000 construction workers are killed on the job in the U.S. annually, or about 12 people every day. The construction industry has seen little reform in recent years and fixing the problem appears to be a complex situation. Many construction accidents can be prevented, but much reform has yet to happen.

Construction accidents have become increasingly common. Poor safety training could be the catalyst to the higher construction accident numbers. According to safety experts, most construction accidents occur due to: falling, collapsing scaffolds, electrocution, collapsing trenches and impact.

Ultimately, the job of providing better safety education falls on contractors, unions, and employers. If there is a safety protocol that has been proven to be effective, then it falls on all three parties’ shoulders to ensure the guidelines are shared and enforced.

Having safety protocol and the proper mindset in place is critical to minimizing injury without holding up project completion.

Experts say unions could potentially make the construction industry safer, because a centralized and experienced representative can better negotiate agreements with the employers regarding safety protocols.

The First Thing You Need to Do After a Construction Accidents That Could Have Been Prevented

If you have been injured while working on a construction site, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Once you have obtained the proper medical care, promptly:

  • Alert your employer or construction site manager that you have been injured
  • Record the name and job title of the person whom you notified and the date on which you reported the injury
  • Try to obtain the names and contact information of all individuals who witnessed the accident
  • Photograph the area where you were injured, take pictures of the injuries you sustained and any equipment or tools that were involved in your injury

We provide risk free, no charge discussions of construction accidents so that injured workers can learn about their legal rights. Our firm also assists companies in developing procedures to put in place if an emergency does arise at construction sites. Talk with a lawyer from our firm today.

Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.Virginia Construction Accident Attorneys

About the Author
Peter DePaolis joined the firm in 1980 and has since represented a large number of individuals involved in automobile collisions, truck accidents, bus crashes, defective products, and medical malpractice cases. A significant portion of Mr. DePaolis’ practice is devoted to working on behalf of people suffering from asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related cancers. He has led his firm’s fight against the asbestos industry and has recovered over $30 million in damages for asbestos victims and their families.