How to Prevent Construction Accidents This Summer
Summer Brings More Than Heat in The Summer for Construction Workers
For most people, summer means vacations and sunny days at the beach.
For those working in the construction industry, summer is typically associated with longer shifts and endless heat.
Summer does more than make the work environment for construction workers uncomfortable, it also increases the workload several times over.
What that means is the men and women of the construction industry are working harder for longer in the summer, likely under grueling conditions.
Doing so can lead to a rise in injury and accidents on the job site, such as:
- Accidents involving heavy equipment and construction vehicles
- Dehydration
- Heatstroke and heat exhaustion
- Sunburns and skin cancer
Employers and supervisors need to be more aware of the added risks associated with summer construction work.
Construction Site Accidents Can Be Prevented
To ensure the safety of you and your coworkers while working on a job, there should be an increase in precautions.
No matter what the outside temperature is, employers and supervisors should include the following summer safety measure:
- Employers should improve safety programs and training for construction in the summer. In the construction industry, safety should always come first.
- Your employees should be provided with opportunities to rest and re-hydrate throughout the day in order to avoid heatstroke and heat exhaustion.
- Your night shift workers should also be monitored for heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and that work zones are properly illuminated.
- Make sure work sites are just as visible as those working on it.
Forgoing safety meetings and additional training when the summer workloads increase is tempting, but it is vital that you and your employees take your safety seriously.
If your employer intentionally ignored the safety standards and you got hurt as a result, you have a right to seek compensation for your injuries.
As a construction worker, you’re entitled to a safe workplace under federal law.
Construction site accidents can be complex, and after an incident, many employers and property owners will move quickly to build a legal defense against you.
Our team of construction site attorneys at Trapp & Geller have 30 years of experience and can take on any sized legal team.
We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
If you are hurt on a construction site this summer, contact our Chicago injury law firm today at (312) 368-1444 to learn how you can receive compensation for your construction site accident.