Construction Workers at Risk of Traumatic Brain Injuries

By Matthew Willens  Dec. 11, 2016 1:39p

Construction workers are prone to a wide variety of workplace injuries due to the inherent nature of their work, and the working conditions. Construction workers are at risk of suffering some of the most serious injuries including traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and other head injuries can have life changing consequences. So, it is important for all workers to take necessary precautions in order to protect the employees from sustaining a TBI.

Unfortunately, many construction companies fall short of their legal duty to ensure the safety and well-being of their workers. In this post, our Willens Law Offices worker injury Chicago will talk about the TBI risk faced by construction workers.

The risk of traumatic brain injuries to construction workers

Traumatic brain injuries on construction sites are a serious problem. In a recent report released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), researchers explored the frequency of TBIs in the construction industry. This study was published in the March edition of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

The study revealed some very interesting facts. Some of the main findings of the study include:

• During the period 2003-2010, 315 construction workers lost their lives to traumatic brain injuries sustained at workplace
• Foreign born and older workers were found to be at higher risk of suffering TBIs
• Brain injuries are responsible for about a fourth of all construction worker fatalities
• Workers in smaller construction companies, particularly those with less than 20 workers, were at a 2.5 times higher risk of suffering work related brain injuries compared to workers employed with large companies

This shows that construction workers need to do a lot more protect workers. Our Chicago workers comp lawyers believe that many construction site accidents can be prevented by taking proper safety measures.

How can employers prevent workplace TBIs?

More than 50 percent of the construction worker TBIs result from falls. Working at heights is inherently dangerous, and the employers should pay extra attention to safety in such situations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all construction workers to provide all workers will proper fall protection. The most appropriate fall protection for a situation depends on the nature of the project. There are some other actions that construction workers can take in order to protect workers from TBIs. These include:

• Providing proper personal protective gear
• Erecting guardrails
• Setting up controlled access areas
• Installing personal fall stop systems or safety netting

Adequate worker training can prove very useful in protecting worker safety on construction sites. It is important that construction companies take steps to ensure that their workers know how to work safely at heights.

Have you suffered a TBI at the workplace?

If you are a construction worker who has suffered a work-related traumatic brain injury, chances are that you are faced with huge medical expenses, and you will have to stay off work for a long time. Contact a Chicago worker injury lawyer to understand your rights to workers compensation benefits, and get help with your claim.