The best way to keep workers from being hurt on the job in Pennsylvania is simply to understand what the biggest hazards are and to take steps to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. A few ways to do this are outlined below.
- Electrocutions
Electrocutions are consistently among the biggest threats in the construction industry. The best way to prevent them is to make sure that communication lines are always open so that workers know where lines are, when lines are active, and when they’ve been shut down.
- Scaffold Collapses
When a scaffold collapses, workers can fall to serious injuries and even death. A scaffold system should be checked every single day to make sure it’s safe—even if workers have been using it for months—and routine maintenance must be done on schedule.
- Falling Tools and Debris
Workers on the ground are in serious danger when debris and tools are dropped from above them. Workers must always be conscious of where these items are and where other workers are. Additionally, safety shelters can be used on the ground, along with hard hats.
- Falls
Falls typically are the leading cause of injury and death on construction projects. They can be prevented through the use of proper safety devices—like harnesses and guardrails—and through proper training with ladders and other such devices. Often, safety devices are ignored by workers who are in a hurry and may only be in a dangerous position for a minute or two, but workers should be encouraged never to cut corners with safety.
Those who have been injured in workplace accidents may be able to seek compensation.
Source: Safety.com, “Top 10 Construction Site Accidents and How to Prevent Them,” Emily Ford, accessed Nov. 25, 2015