Spring has sprung, and so has activity on construction sites across the region. According to NYC Open Data, a hub of analytics and data to keep New Yorkers informed, there are approximately 2,834 active worksites across the five boroughs, with additional projects getting the green light every day.
Spring is one of the busiest seasons for construction and the official kick-off for all outdoor projects. Construction employees will be working tirelessly throughout the next few months to meet deadlines and finish projects before the cold weather returns.
Unfortunately, busy worksites can quickly become dangerous when finishing the work becomes more important than safety. Employers and employees must work together to get the job done without risking accidents. Knowing the most common hazards workers face in the spring and how to work safely through them can help prevent thousands of unnecessary injuries this year.
Spring weather may be ideal for construction projects to begin, but the season comes with hazards. According to United Rentals, these are the springtime work hazards you should be watching for before you break ground:
All of these weather conditions can wreak havoc on an active construction site, particularly when safety steps are neglected. When working conditions are slippery and sloppy, workers can be put in situations that may lead to accidents, such as:
When employers are not prepared to keep their workers safe from springhazards, construction injuries skyrocket. According to the National Safety Council Injury Facts, the construction industry saw a total of 310,000 medically consulted injuries in 2017 that occurred from preventable work accidents. These injuries ranged from minor to traumatic, with 924 of the construction-related injuries leading to fatalities.
Not all construction injuries result in fatalities, but that doesn’t make them any less severe or life-changing. While some injuries may lead to a day or two of lost wages, others can cause a worker to lose his/her job or go through years of painful recovery after sustaining permanent disabilities.
According to Ortho Now and Medline Plus, these are the top ten construction injuries doctors treat and some of the conditions that could result from them:
A number of factors can cause construction accidents, but almost half of fatal injuries can be traced back to the ‘Fatal Four’: falls, struck by an object, electrocutions, caught in/between. These hazards are prevalent across all construction sites and consistently make the top OSHA violations every year.
Putting a worksite safety plan in place related to springtime hazards is the first step to reducing preventable injuries. To help get you started, United Rentals recommends including these topics in company safety plans and weekly meetings:
At the law firm of Pazer, Epstein, Jaffe & Fein, we have been fighting for New York City workers in the construction trade for over 50 years. Steelworkers, roofers, construction workers, and electrical workers face some of the most dangerous working conditions in the nation, suffering catastrophic and permanent injuries when safety procedures are not prioritized.
All New York City workers deserve to be kept safe and healthy on the job. If you or a loved one has sustained a work-related injury, our knowledgeable team is here to help. Contact us using our convenient online form or feel free to phone us in New York at 212-227-1212, or in Huntington/Long Island at 631-864-2429.
NYC Open Data. “Projects In Construction Map”. City of New York, (Retrieved May 16). https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Housing-Development/Projects-in-Construction-Map/dzgh-ja44
“Good Construction Safety Topics for Spring”. United Rentals, (Retrieved May 16). https://www.unitedrentals.com/project-uptime/safety/good-construction-safety-topics-spring#/
“Work Overview”. National Safety Council Injury Facts, (Retrieved May 16). https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/work-overview/work-safety-introduction/
“10 Most Common Work Injuries for Construction Workers”. OrthoNow,(Retrieved May 16). https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/work-overview/work-safety-introduction/
“Medical Encyclopedia”. MedlinePlus,(Retrieved May 16). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/encyclopedia_R.htm
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “Commonly Used Statistics”. United States Department of Labor,(Retrieved May 16).https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html
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