The Fatal Four Construction Injuries in Louisiana

Construction consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous occupations in Louisiana. Firms are under more pressure than ever to complete jobs as quickly and cheaply as possible. As a result, they often cut corners when it comes to workplace safety. That approach makes a very hazardous industry even more dangerous.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that the construction worker death rate could be cut in half simply by eliminating the Fatal Four. More on that below.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a construction accident or fell victim to an occupational disease while on the job, a New Orleans workers’ compensation attorney can obtain money for lost wages and medical bills. In some situations, an attorney might be able to bring legal action outside workers’ compensation and obtain additional money for additional damages.

Falls

Overall, falls from a height or slip-and-falls are among the most fatal workplace injuries in Louisiana. The odds of such an incident occurring are even higher in the construction field.

Lack of safety equipment and inadequate safety instruction are among the leading causes of construction fall injuries. As mentioned, many bosses view worker safety, such as safety rails and harnesses, as a convenient place to cut costs. Additionally, many job sites have a number of LEP (Limited English Proficiency) workers. These individuals might not fully understand complicated safety instructions.

Falls are one of the leading causes of head injuries. Over 50,000 Americans die every year as a result.

Electrocutions

It is almost impossible to distinguish between a dead and a live wire on a busy construction site. That’s especially true if the victim is not an electrician.

If electrical shock injuries are treated quickly, they are often not too serious. But many Louisiana construction sites, particularly oil exploration and energy production sites, are in remote locations. Any treatment delay could have serious consequences.

Caught Between Objects

Elevators, lifts, and automatic doors make construction workers much more efficient. And, efficiency is often the name of the game. Unfortunately, these objects are very unforgiving when people are caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Workers’ compensation insurance is no-fault insurance. In civil court, insurance companies often use defenses like contributory negligence and assumption of the risk to avoid paying caught-between claims. But these defenses are irrelevant in most workers’ compensation matters.

Struck By Object

There is an old story that if a person drops a penny from the top of the Empire State Building, if the penny hit a pedestrian on the street, the injury would be fatal. Since pennies flutter to the ground instead of dropping straight down, this story is mostly false.

However, given the mass of a penny and the acceleration factor, if the penny dropped in a straight line, the injury probably would be fatal.

Most New Orleans construction projects are not as tall as the Empire State Building. But many of these workers carry hammers and other relatively heavy objects. If such objects drop accidentally, the results could be tragic. 

Count on an Experienced Attorney

The Fatal Four are responsible for most construction industry fatalities. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in New Orleans, contact Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.

Resource:

usatoday.com/story/money/2019/01/08/most-dangerous-jobs-us-where-fatal-injuries-happen-most-often/38832907/

https://www.lunsfordbaskin.com/workers-compensation-and-medical-bill-payment-in-mississippi/