Slips, Trips And Falls On Construction Sites
Construction sites can be dangerous places. Whether activity on a site is boisterous and confusing, filled with distractions and dangers, or it’s a quiet scene waiting for something to happen, slips, trips and falls can happen. In fact, slip, trip and falls cause 15% of all accidental deaths, according to OSHA. The following types of construction site accidents can be dangerous, even fatal.
Slips In Wet Areas
Dangerous slips can happen when an area in a construction zone has not been properly maintained. Oil, gas, chemicals or water can pool when they are not promptly cleaned up or when leaks occur. When equipment is not properly maintained, it can leak fluids onto slick surfaces. Improper drainage and hastily built drainage systems can create unnecessary hazards. Slips can be the inevitable result.
Slipping on a wet or slippery surface on a construction site can cause problems that may last for years. A victim could suffer permanent damage to ligaments and muscles that are strained during the fall. Bones might be broken falling against the hard ground or debris. It is possible a victim might suffer a head injury as the result of a slip, while back and spinal injuries are even more common after this type of accident.
Trips And Falls
The terrain on construction sites can be dangerous and difficult to navigate. Negligence associated with the placement and disposal of debris, construction materials and trash can make it even more so. Improperly marked areas can create ledges, holes and rises that are hard to distinguish. This makes the possibility of a damaging fall even more likely.
Tripping over someone else’s mistake can cause terrible damage. While no one wants to be hurt, tripping over improperly maintained ground, poorly seated constructs or materials that do not belong there happens far too often. A victim can be scraped, cut or badly bruised in such a fall. Bones can be broken, muscles and ligaments can be twisted and vertebrae in the spinal column can be herniated or displaced. Permanent medical issues can be the result of someone else’s negligence.
Whose Fault Is It?
Whether it is a slip, trip or fall that has occurred on a construction site, often it is not the victim’s fault. Anyone working or stepping through a work site should always be careful. Being aware of the surroundings and carefully watching the ground ahead is instrumental in remaining safe. Nobody wants to slip or fall in a construction site.
However, occasionally the negligence of someone else simply creates unnecessarily dangerous conditions. Leaks and spills, or poorly maintained drainage areas can create slip hazards that should not exist. Failure to place adequate signage where those spills happen can make it impossible for even the most careful person to avoid them. It is not the victim’s fault.
Protruding objects, misplaced debris or trash and holes that should have been filled can make dangerous terrain. Someone’s negligence can create situations where trips and falls are inevitable. When this happens, it is not the victim’s fault. The victim should get medical attention immediately and carefully document the offending danger.