Construction accidents and workplace costs
Falling objects, malfunctioning equipment, and weather-related hazards could hurt construction workers. Construction projects may suffer when a worker suffers even a minor injury. The project deals with downtime when other workers check on someone suffering from a slight sprain. Workers may worry about near-miss incidents, which may affect productivity.
Indirect costs might lead to additional expenses and morale problems. Employers could mitigate some issues by being more proactive with accident prevention steps. Investing in risk assessment and injury prevention might protect workers and save money.
Further legal considerations for construction site accidents
Preventive measures could keep workers safe, so providing them with better equipment and training has benefits. Better training might reduce the chances of workers suffering accidents, but even the most extensive training has limitations. Certain jobs are inherently dangerous, and workers get hurt even when on alert to risks. Negligence might add to the dangers.
Persons involved in construction accidents may file a workers’ compensation claim, generally removing the ability to sue the employer. However, third parties that contribute any harm may face a lawsuit.
A workers’ compensation claim might seem like a straightforward process. However, problems could arise, including the employer claiming the accident was not work-related. Or, the initially provided evidence to support the claim might be insufficient. Thankfully, the workers’ comp system has an appeals process to address issues.