A large proportion of non-fatal injuries and illnesses incurred on the job are incurred by construction workers. In 2009, they suffered 4.3 such injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time workers. Below are just some of the most common injuries that construction workers in Texas might experience.
Falls accounted for 22% of construction-related injuries in 2009, and their number has not significantly gone down in the decade since then. Workers may fall off roofs, scaffolding, cranes and ladders, to name a few elevated surfaces. Workers can be frequently struck by falling objects, too. Even with a hard hat, one could suffer serious brain injuries when, for example, a heavy wrench or other tool is dropped.
Employers are also at risk for injury from the equipment around them whether it is a nail gun that misfires or a dumpster that tips over, and workers can be crushed by large trucks. There are also injuries that arise from fires, explosions and the collapse of trenches or buildings that are scheduled to be demolished.
Other injuries are not so obvious and develop over time, such as repetitive motion injuries, neurological disorders from exposure to high lead levels and respiratory diseases. An example of the latter is pneumoconiosis, a lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust, especially coal dust.
Injured construction workers can suffer anything from cuts and broken bones to loss of hearing and loss of vision. They may develop PTSD, too, and this is sometimes the case when they witness a fellow worker being injured or killed. Refinery accidents, in particular, can involve some very serious injuries, but victims should know that they do not have to settle for workers’ compensation benefits. They may have a lawyer evaluate their case and see how they were the victims of another’s negligence.