Common Injuries Sustained in Construction Accidents

Common Injuries

Working in construction is a dangerous job. Even when safety precautions are taken, accidents still happen on construction sites. These accidents often lead to serious injuries that can affect a worker for the rest of their life. Here are some of the most common injuries sustained in construction accidents.

Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry. Falls can occur when working at heights, using ladders or scaffolding improperly, or tripping over debris or uneven surfaces on the ground.

Common injuries from falls include:

Fractures: Broken bones are very common, especially in the arms, legs, feet, and vertebrae. Severe fractures may require surgery and lengthy rehabilitation. Specific fractures construction workers often sustain include hip fractures, skull fractures, spinal fractures, and wrist fractures. These can range from simple breaks to complex shattering of bones.
Traumatic brain injuries: Falls can often lead to TBIs ranging from concussions to severe damage. These injuries can impair cognition, speech, movement, and senses. Concussions from falls are common, as well as subdural hematomas, contusions, aneurysms, and nerve damage. The effects of TBI can be temporary or lifelong.
Spinal cord injuries: Falls from heights may damage the spinal cord, leading to partial or total paralysis. This requires intensive medical care and lifelong disability assistance. Vertebrae damage in the neck or back can impact motor function in all four limbs if the spinal cord is severely impacted.
Internal organ damage: The high impact of a fall can rupture organs like the spleen, kidneys, or liver. This causes severe internal bleeding and may be fatal if not treated promptly. Blunt force trauma to the torso area damages soft tissue and can essentially burst organs.

Struck By/Pinned Under Objects

Construction workers are also vulnerable to injuries from being struck by or pinned under heavy equipment or materials. Some examples include:

Being struck by vehicles like forklifts, trucks, cranes, or bulldozers. This can cause blunt force trauma, fractures, spinal and brain injuries, or death. Construction vehicles moving around the work site account for many pinning, crushing, and collision incidents.
Being struck by falling materials or tools from higher elevations of the construction site. Hard hats offer some protection, but serious head injuries are still common. Tools, lumber, bricks, and anything not properly secured can plummet from scaffolding, lifts, or equipment and hit ground workers.
Trench collapses or structure collapses can pin or crush workers under extremely heavy weight. This often causes major trauma, internal bleeding, or suffocation. Trenching deaths, in particular, have increased in California, as soil gives way unexpectedly on workers below.
Electrocution from power lines, tools, or equipment can burn tissue, stop the heart, or cause severe neurological damage. Shocking hazards exist across sites, from wiring issues to power line contact or faulty extension cords.

Lacerations and Amputations

Operating heavy machinery and using sharp hand tools makes lacerations and amputations another prevalent construction zone injury. Some specific dangers include:

Fingers or hands getting caught in equipment with belts, gears, or crushing mechanisms. This can cause disfigurement or amputation. Power drills, compactors, mixers, and more all pose catching hazards.
Power saws, nail guns, and other tools can seriously cut or sever digits and limbs. Infection is a major risk with these open wounds. Table saws, in particular, are known for their ability to rapidly amputate fingers and hands.
Exposed rebar or wiring can impale workers who trip or fall onto it. Deep puncture wounds often require surgery. Falling onto protruding objects like exposed rebar, nails, scaffolding pipes, or unfinished lumber is an impalement risk.
Failure to wear proper gloves or gripping tools can lead to severe lacerations when handling sheet metal, lumber, or other materials with sharp edges. Lacerations to the hands, wrists, and arms are extremely common construction injuries.

Musculoskeletal Injuries

The physical nature of construction work also lends itself to many musculoskeletal or repetitive motion injuries:

Back injuries like herniated discs from lifting heavy material repeatedly with improper form. Lifting, bending, and twisting while handling objects or tools is a major contributor to back issues.
Knee injuries like torn ligaments or cartilage from kneeling extensively during trade work like tiling or roofing. Tile setters and roofers are especially prone to knee problems from long hours spent kneeling on hard surfaces.
Shoulder injuries like rotator cuff tears from overhead drilling or painting. Repeated overhead motions and heavy lifting above shoulder level strains rotator cuffs.
Elbow/wrist injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome from vibrations of power tools. Extended use of jackhammers, chisels, compactors, and other vibrating tools damages nerves in elbows and wrists.
Neck injuries like bulging discs from craning the neck to look upwards excessively. Framing, ceiling work, painting, and other tasks require constant neck extension.
Hip injuries like fractures or cartilage tears from repetitive squatting, crouching, and uneven ground. Squatting is a common movement in construction and places hip joints under stress.

These cumulative injuries cause chronic pain and may require extended recovery periods.

Respiratory Hazards

Working around construction dust, chemicals, and fumes can also lead to respiratory damage over time:

Asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma later in life. Despite regulation, asbestos still exists in some older structures and poses inhalation risks.
Concrete/masonry dust creates silicosis risk when inhaled regularly without a mask. Grinding, drilling, demolition, and mixing concrete materials releases fine particulate silica.
Fumes from materials like paints, solvents, asphalt, and adhesives can severely irritate lungs and airways.
Confined spaces can expose workers to unsafe gas levels, causing suffocation. Cesspools, manholes, tunnels, and other tight work areas may lack oxygen or contain toxic fumes.

Appropriate ventilation controls and respirators are essential for mitigating respiratory hazards at construction sites.

Preventing Construction Injuries

While the construction industry will always carry inherent risks, companies must provide proper safety training and equipment to minimize the chance of accidents. Some important safety measures include:

Harness systems, guard rails, safety nets, and proper ladder protocols when working at heights. Controlling falls is the top priority, with dozens of safety measures available.
Strict protocols for trenching and excavations to avoid collapses. Trench boxes, shoring, angled excavations, and soil testing help prevent trench cave-ins.
Rotating workers operating heavy machinery to avoid fatigue. Reducing hours of repetitive tasks is key to preventing overexertion injuries.
Enforcement of proper personal protective equipment like harnesses, helmets, gloves, and eye/ear protection. PPE must be mandated on sites and replaced when showing signs of wear.
Adequate ventilation and respirators when exposure to hazardous dust or fumes is present. Monitoring air quality and mandating mask use protects respiratory health.
Regular breaks to avoid injuries due to fatigue. Repetitive motion and heavy labor take a toll requiring rest periods.
Ongoing safety training for new hires and annual refresher courses. Training ensures workers maintain safety top of mind.

If you have suffered an injury in a California construction accident, contact the experienced attorneys at The Ryan Law Group today for a free consultation on your legal options. Our lawyers have helped recover millions of dollars for injured construction workers statewide. Don’t wait to get the compensation you deserve.

Visit one of our offices at:

317 Rosecrans Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
1444 Fulton Street, Fresno, CA 93721
402 W Broadway, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92101
580 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
4900 California Ave, 210-B, Bakersfield, CA 93309
11801 Pierce St, Riverside, CA 92505
445 S Figueroa Street #3100, Los Angeles, CA 90744

Or call us today for a free consultation on (310) 807-6601.