Every workplace has its share of hazards. However, construction sites can be particularly hazardous. From heavy machinery to flying and sharp objects or working from elevated heights, there is never a shortage of hazards at a construction site.
If you sustain an injury while at work, you may be eligible for compensation through a workers’ compensation claim. But exactly what injuries can you sustain as a construction worker?
While the risk of injury is present in almost any workplace, some injuries tend to happen more frequently than others. Here are catastrophic injuries you can sustain while working at a construction site.
1. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Most traumatic brain injuries happen when the brain is subjected to trauma from a blunt object. They can also happen when the brain is pierced by a sharp object. One of the most commonly known forms of TBI is a concussion which happens when the head strikes a hard object.
TBIs happen when a worker is struck on the head by a sharp object like a misfired nail, flying debris or when they land on a hard surface following a trip, slip and fall incident.
2. Spinal cord injuries
This is one of the most difficult injuries to treat. In fact, spinal cord injury can lead to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries happen when the spine is crushed, compressed or severed.
Like TBIs, spinal cord injuries happen when a worker trips and falls off a faulty ladder or scaffold.
Protecting your rights
If you sustain injuries while at a construction site, you deserve financial restitution through your employer-sponsored workers’ compensation program. To receive the compensation you deserve, however, you have to take the following crucial steps:
- Inform your employer about your injury in writing within 30 days from the date of your injury
- Seek medical treatment
- File your workers’ compensation claim within one year from the date of your injury
Construction site injuries can be life-altering. If you sustain injuries at work, you need to explore your legal options.