What are some common causes of construction accidents in Nevada? Nevada construction accidents often occur as a result of falls, electrocutions, caught–in/between, and struck–by accidents. These are often the direct result of failure to abide by OSHA standards. Nevada construction accidents may also result from inadequate safety equipment, insufficient training, or poor equipment maintenance.
Workers hurt on the job have the right to seek compensation for their losses. Understanding the common causes of construction accidents in Nevada may help you build your case. Speak with a Las Vegas construction accident lawyer today.
Struck By Object Accidents
One of the most common types of accidents on construction sites is a struck-by-object accident. These result from failures in mechanical systems and a lack of training. Workers can suffer serious injuries and loss of life from accidents resulting from:
- Objects swinging as a result of being unsecured
- Objects falling and striking people due to a lack of security
- Objects being misplaced, resulting in them falling or otherwise striking another person.
Falling objects from rigging is a common factor here. Loose and shifting materials, often the result of improper placement or management of the location, can also cause these accidents. Equipment malfunctions due to a manufacturer’s defect, poor maintenance, or a lack of training also contribute to being struck by objects.
Vehicle-Related Accidents
Another type of struck-by-object accident involves moving vehicles on the construction site. In some situations, these vehicles, whether forklifts or cars, can strike a person because of distraction, lack of training, or unsafe practices. These are all preventable causes of accidents.
Lack of Fall Protection
One of the most common reasons people suffer injuries on construction sites relates to a lack of proper fall protection. Working at heights requires specific strategies to mitigate risks, including the use of temporary structures as barriers and harnesses. While some people may not want to wear these, oversights like them cause numerous accidents each year.
Data shared by OSHA indicates that up to 37% of people suffer injuries or deaths on construction projects due to fall-protection oversights. Keep in mind that this could include workers who are falling, as well as those walking through construction sites.
OSHA fall protection requires taking steps when a worker is 6 feet or more above the ground. That may not seem like much height, but it is enough to cause injuries.
A lack of fall protection, inadequate education on how to use such protection, or a culture of not following these requirements are all preventable losses. Talk to a Las Vegas construction site brain injury lawyer today.
Lack of Grounding or Double-Insulating Electrical Equipment
In some situations, electrical injuries are very common. Most of the time, contractors recognize the importance of only allowing licensed and trained professionals to handle electrical systems. However, some of the most common electrical accidents occur due to failure to ground electrical lines properly or to use double-insulated electrical equipment. Common accidents include:
- Coming into contact with overhead power lines
- Energized conductors or circuit parts due to oversights
- Exposed wiring-related accidents due to poor maintenance or repair
- Wet conditions located near outlets
- Poorly maintained tools and cords, including power tools
- Lightning strikes when operating in unsafe conditions
Electrical injuries can be devastating and often result in the loss of life. Proper training, oversight, and careful management of contractors and subcontractors may reduce some of these risks. Following OSHA standards can also reduce those risks tremendously.
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Lack of Training Accidents
A large number of construction site accidents are related to a lack of training and follow-up support. Workers may take shortcuts to get something done sooner, pushing back against the rules. A lack of hands-on training and guidance for a worker is a common, preventable cause of life lost on the job.
Training requirements are standardized by OSHA. This includes initial training and education, or skills a worker must have before they get started on the job. It also includes ongoing training and safety updates provided by employers to employees. When training methods are no longer up to date or strategies are ineffective, making modifications becomes important.
Unfortunately, without ongoing training, even when there are highly skilled and professional individuals with years of work experience working for you, the risk of injury is high. Certifications are necessary to prevent mistakes that cost people their lives.
Caught-in/Between Hazards
Caught-in/between hazards occur less frequently than other injuries, but when they do, they can be devastating. They have a very high fatality rate. Prevention strategies can help minimize these risks, as can following OSHA guidelines.
The law requires that a competent person possess the authority to immediately remove workers when there is a risk, including protective system failures, hazardous atmospheres, or possible cave-ins. Common types of caught-in/between hazards include:
- Trench collapses from improper structure or management
- Pinned between vehicles and a fixed object due to safety oversights
- Workers caught in unguarded machinery
- Entrapment in cave-ins
- Cave-ins resulting from the improper classification of soil and rock deposits as stable
Failure to follow OSHA’s 5-foot trigger method, a proven strategy for reducing worker risk, is a common reason for this. Protective systems include sloping, benching, and shielding, which, if skipped or done ineffectively, can pose a serious risk of injury.
Additionally, workers and management teams must inspect systems daily to ensure that each shift follows mandatory requirements. Oversights here are a common reason for accidents.
How Our Construction Accident Attorneys Can Help You
If you are in an accident or suffer an injury at a construction site, hire a local attorney who understands both OSHA and local safety rules and requirements. This helps you see what oversights took place to allow you to suffer such serious injuries and losses.
At Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers, we provide clients with a free consultation to review their case and losses. If you are unfairly denied workers’ compensation or need help seeking compensation, reach out to our construction site accident lawyers in Nevada for immediate help and guidance.
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