Accident Resource Center of Michigan
According to recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,283 workers were killed on the job in 2023, an average of about 15 deaths a day. Construction had the most fatalities (1,075) among all industry sectors in 2023—the highest for the sector going back to 2011—with construction workers accounting for approximately one in five (20.8%) of all workplace fatalities in the United States. Common physical injuries in the work place, such as fractures, thermal burn injuries, head, neck and brain injuries and back and spinal cord injuries, are caused by falls from heights, dangerous machinery, motor vehicle accidents, impacts from falling objects and crush injuries. Other workplace hazards include electrocution, exposure to dangerous chemicals, loud noise, and biological agents. Road construction workers are at special risk of receiving injuries on construction sites that allow motor vehicle traffic to pass through. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 39.2 percent (421) of all construction fatalities, making falls the leading cause of death in the construction industry, with the construction industry accounting for 47.8 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips across all workplace sectors.
Death and serious injury suffered by construction workers often involve multiple injuries to the skin, muscles, joints and internal organs. If the worker’s limbs have been compressed for some time under a heavy object, he or she might have sustained a crush injury which disrupts circulation of the blood and may cause the individual to go into traumatic shock. If left untreated, crush injuries can have severe consequences involving kidney damage or amputation of the affected limb. Most fatal falls to a lower level within construction were from a height between 6 and 30 feet (260 or 64.4 percent), while 67 fatal falls were from a height of more than 30 feet. Portable ladders and stairs were the primary source of 109 fatalities in construction in 2023.
Construction and factory workers are exposed to thousands of commercial chemical products that generally do not cause injury, unless left on the skin for a prolonged time, or if the chemical is inhaled or ingested. Severe chemical injuries often occur in the workplace when there is prolonged contact with a chemical that is released in an accidental spill or explosion. Severe chemical burns can cause intense pain and discomfort and even shock. If dangerous chemicals are inhaled, damage to the respiratory system may leave a worker with long term medical issues.
If you have been injured in a construction or industrial accident, Workers’ Compensation will cover much of your medical expenses and a portion of your wage losses, but not all of your actual expenses. You may be entitled to collect additional compensation from another party for your injuries if there was negligence on the part of the construction site owner or sub-contractor or if you were injured because of dangerous machinery.
The Law Offices of Henry M. Hanflik has successfully represented many construction accident victims and their families. If you, a friend or loved one has been injured, talk with the experienced Michigan construction and industrial accident attorneys by completing the online form or by calling toll-free 1 (888) 905-4632.