Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers Fight For Those Impacted by Workplace Injuries
Claiming Full Recoveries for Workers Injured in Struck-By Accidents
Struck-by accidents are one the construction industry’s “Fatal Four” hazards, along with falls, electrocutions, and caught-in/between accidents. Struck-by accidents accounted for 9.4 percent of all worker fatalities in calendar year 2016.
Workers who are struck-by heavy objects suffer a wide range of potential injuries, including bruises; cuts; broken bones; head, neck, and spine injuries; and even death.
To address this risk to construction workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides training materials, support, and regulations designed to protect employees from serious and debilitating injuries.
Types of Struck-by Accidents
On any given construction site, there are any number of potential safety hazards. OSHA guidelines focus on three common types of struck-by accidents.
Construction workers are most frequently struck-by:
- Concrete or masonry walls: Until these walls are completed and can support themselves, there is a risk of collapse. Also, workers can be injured as heavy slabs and stones are moved about and put into place.
- Falling or flying objects: Anytime construction work is being performed at a height, workers below can be hit by falling debris or flying objects. Power tools can be dropped, or may dislodge construction materials and particles, launching them at nearby workers.
- Heavy equipment and vehicles: Construction workers can become pinned between construction vehicles and walls or crushed under overturned vehicles.
Preventing Struck-by Accidents
Employers are required to protect workers from these known preventable hazards. Effective safety training and control measures for construction workers reduce the likelihood they will be injured in a struck-by accident.
To prevent masonry and concrete struck-by accidents, workers should shore-up structures until they can be permanently secured, and only load lifting devices to their capacity. When it comes to decreasing the risk of worker injuries caused by flying or falling objects, toe boards and debris nets reduce contact with airborne objects and particles.
Construction vehicles like cranes and forklifts should be in safe working order with adequate braking systems and audible alarms, in order to keep workers from getting crushed underneath or between them.
Every worker on the construction site should utilize basic safety gear, including hard hats, goggles, face shields, and warning clothing to protect the body and be more visible to others.
What to Do After a Struck-by Accident
If you suffer a struck-by construction accident at work, it is crucial to take the proper steps to get the proper medical care, and protect your right to possible compensation for your injuries. Employers who fail to protect their employees from known hazards may be held responsible when those workers are hurt on the job.
Construction companies often encourage injured workers to accept basic disability payments, so they can avoid accepting liability for dangerous work conditions. These benefits are rarely enough to over medical bills and lost income after a serious injury. Working with a Philadelphia construction accident lawyer at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC who is knowledgeable about struck-by accidents increases your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.
Our team of skilled, dedicated Philadelphia construction accident lawyers is not afraid to take on the big construction companies. They are expected to protect their workers from the “Fatal Four” accidents and should be held responsible when they fail to do so.
Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC Help Workers Injured in Struck-by Accidents
After you have received medical attention and notified your employer of your struck-by accident, it is smart to contact a Philadelphia construction accident lawyer at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC. To discuss your situation with a lawyer who listens and takes the time to explain all your legal options, call 215-569-8488, or contact us online. We are proud to serve clients in Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, and throughout Pennsylvania, as well as Delaware and New Jersey.