Runovers, Collisions, and Caught-Betweens – The Top 3 Most Common and Fatal Road Construction Accidents in the United States
Construction workers who work on Decatur’s roadways, highways, and paths, have a lot to contend with. Every day that they are out on the job, road construction workers are faced with a number of serious hazards in the workplace, not only as a result of the heavy, manual work that they do, but also as a result of working on the road in the regular flow of traffic. Indeed, road construction workers not only have to deal with the usual dangers of a road construction site – such as sharp and heavy tools and machinery, extreme temperatures, heights, falling objects, and fast-paced work – but also the chance to be struck and killed by a motor vehicle on site or on the road is a constant potential concern. In order to better demonstrate just how dangerous construction work on the road is, construction industry player SkillSignal compiled data regarding road construction work hazards and fatalities. As part of its findings, SkillSignal found that the top three causes of road construction worker deaths are runover and backover accidents, motor vehicle and mobile equipment collisions, and “caught in between” or “struck by” accidents. But how exactly do these accidents happen and how can they be prevented?
Runover/Backover Accidents in Road Construction Work
According to SkillSignal, 48% of worker fatalities in construction were caused by runover or backover accidents. Runover and back-over accidents occur on a road construction site when a motor vehicle strikes a worker and either proceeds to run over the worker, or when a motor vehicle in reverse runs over a worker as it backs up. Oftentimes, runover and backover accidents are caused by a lack of visibility. A simple solution to decrease the chance of a runover or backover accident on a road construction site is to require that drivers work with a spotter or equip the vehicle with backup cameras.
Motor Vehicle Collisions in Road Construction Work
Second to runover and backover accidents, motor vehicle collisions are responsible for 14% of road construction worker deaths. Motor vehicle or mobile equipment collisions occur when a motor vehicle or piece of mobile equipment hits a worker. Road construction sites should always be marked with cones and barrels to ensure that workers are visible to drivers. They should also be used to demarcate where heavy equipment is being stored or used, where worker “safe zones” are set, and where parking or other areas for workers are established on the roadside.
Caught-Between and Struck-by Accidents in Road Construction Work
Finally, workers can be severely injured or die if they are caught between or struck by construction equipment and other objects on a road construction site. These types of accidents are responsible for 14% of road worker deaths, in a tie with collision accidents. It is important for workers to recognize caught-between hazards on road construction sites. Using appropriate safety equipment, maintaining a safe distance from equipment and other objects is also helpful to prevent caught-between and struck-by accidents.
If you were injured at work in Decatur and you are interested in learning about your rights and options to Georgia Workers’ Compensation benefits, contact the experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyers at the O’Connell Law Firm. The experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyers at the O’Connell Law Firm offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help. Contact the O’Connell Law Firm today and speak with a lawyer about your case for free.
Source:
skillsignal.com/resource/constructions-safety-statistics/#:~:text=Over%20a%2045%2Dyear%20long,(Safety%20%26%20Health%20Magazine)
