Any classic American occupation can conjure iconic images. Mentioning “construction work” reminds us of the Industrial Revolution, with capable men raising skyscrapers protected only by a pair of sturdy boots and a yellow hard hat. Every bridge, highway, and city skyline as we know it today was built through the efforts of these hard working people. While we can celebrate the great successes of the construction industry by visiting Chicago’s Willis Tower or the St. Louis Arch, we must not forget the dangers that face construction workers as they perform the job we depend on. While the construction industry comprises only 8% of U.S. laborers, it endures 22% of workplace fatalities, which is more than any other industry sector. Because working in construction can be life-threatening, there are a variety of organizations in the Midwest devoted to safety development in the industry.
Safety Conference
This year in February, the Chicagoland Construction Safety Council hosted the 20th annual Construction Safety Conference and Exposition in Rosemont, IL. This three-day event boasts over sixty exhibitors and seminars all devoted to safety in the construction workplace. The Conference draws crowds with notable keynote speakers and a Safety Awards Ceremony to honor those using excellent safety practices. The Conference serves to demonstrate current innovations and advances that can enhance safety technology and procedures.
The Conference offers one such opportunity for safety advancement through a seminar on Construction Safety Certifications. Currently, many workers are becoming certified Safety Practitioners. This professional or paraprofessional certification affords workers more responsibility, higher wages, and more highly skilled work. Most importantly, it equips their workplace with a higher degree of safety expertise.
The Conference also serves as a setting to promulgate information about new safety standards. This year, OSHA finalized new crane safety rules. The Conference led a seminar to help managers and safety officers decipher the complicated regulations, such as crane operator certifications, signaling, and requirements for power lines. The Conference also helped to update attendees on new fall protection standards and to offer general safety equipment tips.
Accident prevention
Even though safety measures are constantly being updated to keep companies on the cutting edge of worker protection, accidents are bound to happen in such a dangerous environment. Common workplace accidents include falling accidents, falling objects, vehicle accidents, exertion injuries, chemical incidents, fires, and explosions. The damage can range from a muscle strain to serious injury or death. When a fatality occurs on a construction site, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) launches an investigation. This investigation uses an evaluative report called a Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation, otherwise known as the FACE Program. The FACE program aims to determine the reason for a workplace fatality in order to prevent similar future accidents. The FACE program aims to continuously revise safety procedures in the workplace and prevent future fatalities.
Despite the sophisticated procedures to do so, no one ever wants to complete a fatality investigation. The best method to promote safety in the work place is with a sound accident-prevention plan. Most if not all companies assemble safety teams and hold inspections, and important issues to discuss with the safety team include:
- Fall protection/fall prevention
- Personal Protection Equipment
- Emergency procedures
- Electrical safety
- Ladder safety/Scaffold safety
- Fire prevention/fire extinguishers
An excellent way to keep track of multiple safety issues is to have a lead safety official keep a Safety Checklist, either to complete or distribute to other safety officers.
The aftermath of construction accidents
Even with excellent prevention, thousands become victims of construction accidents each year. While the actual accident is often devastating in itself, many workers are unprepared for significant issues that can arise after an injury occurs. Some examples include missing shifts due to injury, expensive medical bills, light duty work, lost wages and/or using up all your sick days, and negative pressure from your employer to avoid a workers’ compensation claim.
After an injury, these types of problems tend to pile up, and it can be extremely difficult handling them, especially if you are unfamiliar with legal issues. It is your right to consult legal counsel to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have following a personal injury. Capron & Avgerinos, P.C. has been handling complicated construction accident cases for more than 20 years. If you are injured in a construction accident, the first thing you should do is contact a medical professional as your health should be your most important concern. However, an attorney experienced in construction accidents and personal injury claims can help you in understanding your rights and potential remedies.
For more information, please see:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
