If you work in the construction injury, it’s critical to have a clear understanding of the risks associated with your job and the steps you can take to best protect yourself. Your safety isn’t guaranteed, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing your part in preventing trouble. Here are some of the many types of construction accidents that have the potential to cause serious injury or death:

  • Fall from height: When working at height, it’s a must to use all the safety tools that are available to you. For example, wearing a harness when working on a roof protects you from a fall to the ground below. However, even with extra caution, you could still fall from height, thus suffering serious injuries as a result.
  • Trip and fall: Even though you’re not falling from a great distance, this type of accident can still cause serious injury. For instance, if you trip on a tool or piece of debris, you could lose your balance, thus hitting your head on a hard object on the way to the ground.
  • Scaffolding and ladder accidents: Construction sites are full of equipment and tools, with scaffolding and ladders among the most common. While useful in many ways, both of these have the potential for danger. Take extreme caution when using scaffolding or ladders, such as maintaining three points of contact when climbing a ladder.
  • Vehicle accidents: Maybe you’re staffed with operating heavy machinery on a construction site. Or maybe you simply work in close proximity to these types of vehicles. Either way, your safety is always at risk. These vehicles are big and powerful, which can result in serious injury or death in the event of an accident.

As a construction worker, it’s a must that you protect your safety at all times. Should the worst happen and you suffer a serious injury, don’t wait to receive medical care. From there, you can revisit the cause of the accident to better understand your legal rights. By taking the appropriate action, such as filing a third-party claim, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages and other damages.