The 2019 construction industry was $29.3 billion of Georgia’s gross domestic product. And more than 300,000 Georgia residents work in the construction industry. Construction can provide steady work that pays well, but it’s also dangerous. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 100,000 construction workers are injured yearly.
Workers’ compensation helps injured construction workers cover expenses such as medical bills and lost wages. However, the injury must occur on the job. Here are some common construction site injuries.
Struck by falling objects
There’s a reason why hard hats are mandatory on construction sites. A falling tool or object can hit a worker. It can cause a concussion, broken limb, other brain injury or death.
Falls
Construction work often involves working at great heights. It’s common for construction workers to go hundreds of feet in the air. They sometimes do this while using tools or standing on high beams. A trip or moment of dizziness can lead to a deadly fall.
Hit by vehicle
Construction site vehicles include bulldozers, trucks, front loaders and excavators. One of these vehicles could lurch forward and hit a worker or back over someone. It’s also possible to get crushed between one of these vehicles and a building or wall.
Injuries caused by tools
Construction workers use saws, hammers, screwdrivers and other tools. A tool mishap can lead to serious injuries. For example, a hammer can break a bone and a saw can take off a limb.
The aftermath of an injury
Construction sites are full of potential threats. When an accident happens, financial assistance is often needed. Workers’ compensation is there to help injured workers pay injury-related expenses and replace lost wages.