When you think about the construction industry, coordinator safety should be at the top of your list. Safety in construction is the most important part of this field, and you need to take steps to keep your employees safe. When it comes to safety, health and work environment, it is important to think about the injuries that someone may suffer. If you take steps to minimize the chances of someone getting hurt, you place your construction business in the best position possible to be successful. What are a few examples of the most common injuries that someone may suffer in construction? Take a look at the list below, and remember to reach out to a professional if you need help improving the safety of your workplace.
A Traumatic Brain Injury
Unfortunately, one of the most common injuries that take place in the construction industry is traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury takes place when there is a temporary or permanent shift in the manner in which the brain functions. Similar to other injuries, traumatic brain injuries come in many shapes and forms. There are some people who may suffer a concussion when they bang their head on something. There are also people who may suffer a skull fracture or a cerebral contusion if something gets dropped on their heads. Even a minor traumatic brain injury can be serious because it could lead to permanent complications. Wearing a helmet can markedly reduce the chances of someone suffering a traumatic brain injury.
Related: 8 Ways To Prevent Injury In The Workplace
A Herniated Disc
Another common injury that people suffer in the construction industry is a herniated disc. A herniated disc takes place when the cushion in between two vertebrae perforates. As a result, the vertebrae start to rub against each other, leading to significant pain. Furthermore, a nerve can get pinched as it leaves the spinal column. One of the most common symptoms of a herniated disc is a shooting pain that travels down one of the legs. The most common location for a herniated disc is between L3 and L4 or between L4 and L5. If you want to reduce the chances of someone suffering a herniated disc, teach people to lift their legs instead of their backs.
A Broken Bone
Bone fractures are also common in the construction industry. There are numerous types of bone fractures that people may suffer, but one of the most common is a fracture of the wrist. The two bones of the wrist are the radius and ulna. The radius is significantly larger than the ulna. The most common reason why someone suffers a fractured wrist is a trip and fall. When someone falls, they extend their arms to protect their torso. Unfortunately, this also increases the chances of suffering a wrist fracture. If you want to prevent people from suffering a broken bone, reduce clutter in the workplace so people do not fall.
A Penetrating Eye Injury
Penetrating eye injuries can also take place in the construction industry. These come from projectiles that fly across the zone. This could include sparks, nails, screws, or even particles from metal and wood that are being worked on. The easiest way to prevent someone from suffering an eye injury is to wear goggles. Make sure your employees wear goggles when they are working in the construction zone.
Loud Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss
Even though this may not qualify as an injury, it is still a significant hazard in the construction field. Exposure to loud noises can increase someone’s chances of suffering hearing loss. You need to take steps to minimize loud noises and protect people’s ears. One of the ways to do that is to encourage all of your employees to wear ear protection. This could include headphones, which are particularly important when someone is working with heavy equipment. If someone is wearing your headphones, they may have a difficult time hearing other people. You may want to give your employees headsets with ear protection they can use to stay in contact with one another while they are on site.
Take Steps To Protect People from Harm
Ultimately, there are countless injuries that someone may suffer in the construction industry. Even though it is possible for someone to get hurt, there are also steps companies can take to reduce the chances of someone suffering an injury. If you need help figuring out how to improve the safety of your workplace, you may want to talk to experts who can help you. You should also collect feedback from your employees, as they will want to be involved in the process. After all, your employees are placing themselves in the line during the project. They should have a say in the safety practices you have in the construction zone.