Top 10 Construction Accident Causes in Florida
Despite construction companies taking increased measures to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities, accidents can still happen. Knowing the dangers can help you to prevent falling victim to an on-the-job injury. If you were injured, or lost a loved one, during a construction accident, our Florida construction accident lawyers can help.
How Often Do Construction Accidents Occur in Florida?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2.3 accidents occur in the United States for every 100 workers per year. That means a huge number of accidents occurring across the U.S., and Florida is no exception. Construction injuries are often serious, and in 2022, there were 91 fatalities from construction site incidents in Florida.
In addition to a general lack of proper planning to prevent these incidences, here are ten causes of construction accidents.
Improper Scaffolding Use
Scaffoldings can pose a risk to construction workers if they are not assembled or used correctly. Around 65% of construction workers routinely use scaffolds on the job. Since scaffolds are hoisted to great heights, one that is faulty can pose a fatal fall hazard. Whether a collapse or a fall, scaffolding accidents are far too common on construction sites. As a precaution, construction workers should wear a body harness for protection. Florida workers are also required to be properly trained on scaffolding use per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
Lack of Fall Protection
Falls are often one of the most dangerous types of construction accident. In Florida, over half of construction site fatal accidents were from slips, trips, or falls, and across industries falls make up a higher percentage of occupational fatalities in Florida than elsewhere in the country. If your loved one died during a work-related fall, our Florida wrongful death lawyers can help.
Similar to the scaffolding issue, an inadequate amount of fall protection measures around scaffolds or other elevated surfaces can result in more significant injuries and fatalities due to falls. OSHA has specific suggestions for preventing Focus Four accidents including falls, such as:
- Cover and clearly label floor openings.
- Wear personal protective equipment like hard hats and those for arresting falls.
- Implement guardrails, safety nets, and other perimeter protection.
- Always follow safe practice guidelines when using scaffolding or ladders.
Inadequate Equipment on Excavation Sites
Excavation of any kind can potentially be fatal due to improper use of machinery, falling loads, or a lack of personal protective equipment. OSHA also recommends that your team know where all underground pipes and electrical lines are placed before beginning work to eliminate this potential hazard. Other safety measures you can take are as follows:
- Have an alert system when machinery is being operated nearby.
- Prohibit employees from standing under or adjacent to lifted loads.
- Ensure that the operator of any machinery has a clear view of the excavation site at all times.
Faulty Ladders
OSHA estimates that nearly 36 fatalities in construction sites per year are due to ladder and stairway accidents. A ladder that is improperly secured, contains structural damage, or has slippery substances on its rungs only increases the risk of a fall.
Supervisors should take caution when inspecting ladders before employee use and provide necessary fall or personal protection equipment to prevent a ladder accident.
Lack of Head Protection
Whether from falling objects or collisions with low-clearance obstacles, failing to wear proper head protection on a construction site can lead to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or even death. In fact, according to the CDC, TBIs account for 20-25% of workplace related traumas. This type of injury is often severe, and may require a lifetime of medical treatment and care.
It’s essential to keep protective equipment, such as hard hats, in good condition. Dents or cracks can weaken the structural integrity and diminish their protective abilities. If a hard hat has been damaged, it should be discarded and replaced with a new one.
Improperly Maintained Stairways
If you are working on a construction job with a stairway, always make sure that there are handrails and the steps are free from any debris or liquid that may cause slips and falls.
To ensure better employee protection, OSHA guidelines state that temporary construction stairways should be assembled at an angle of at least 30-degrees and no more than 50-degrees and include treads made of wood or other solid material covering the entire step.
Poorly Constructed Trenches
Despite being one of the most common tasks on a construction site, unprotected or poorly constructed trenches account for dozens of injuries and fatalities each year. Unsafe trench conditions you want to avoid are:
- Lack of sloping
- Unsecured walls
- Lack of shielding or trench boxes
Likewise, making sure significant barriers are surrounding the trench may be necessary to safeguard against workers falling into them. Since collapses are a common hazard in trenches, workers should take extra safety precautions on site.
Improper Crane Use
Serious and often fatal injuries can occur from the improper use of cranes. In fact, over the course of six years from 2011-2017, 297 crane-related deaths happened in the United States alone. Accidents involving cranes continue to be prevalent. Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor cited two Florida construction contractors for a lack of crane safety protocols which lead to a death.
Whether it’s a fallen load or getting hit by the swing radius, a lack of proper inspection and operation of these machines can be fatal. Similarly, other fatal incidents can occur when a crane comes in contact with an overhead electrical line. Operators should always be aware of their surroundings and drive at safe speeds to avoid a crane accident.
Forklift Operation Without Proper Training
About 95,000 employees are injured on the job while operating forklifts. This also results in about 100 fatalities each year from driving forklifts. It is imperative that employees with the proper certifications perform safety checks on the machinery before operating.
OSHA also has an extensive list of recommendations and safety measures to take for all employees when a forklift is on-site.
Failure to Communicate Hazards
Failure to recognize and communicate hazards involving chemicals or unsafe conditions can result in numerous injuries and fatalities from burns, TBIs, or even explosions. According to BLS, exposure to harmful substances or environments was the third most frequent type of fatal work incident in Florida.
Proper communication regarding safety hazards when entering a job site is crucial to protecting employees’ health and safety. Similarly, it is essential to enforce clear communication procedures for workers to report hazards to coworkers or supervisors.
If You’ve Been Injured in a Florida Construction Site Accident, We Can Help
If you’ve been injured in a Florida construction accident, our attorneys at Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. will fight to protect your rights if you were hurt in unsafe and negligent working conditions. Our worker’s compensation lawyers work with our personal injury lawyers to make sure you receive all the benefits and damages that you are entitled to. Our legal team has your best interest in mind and will work hard to ensure that you receive maximum compensation that you deserve.
We are available 24/7 and have English, Spanish, and Creole-speaking staff. Contact Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. today to schedule your free consultation.
