3 Workplace Accidents That Happen When You Least Expect Them~4 min read

Every year, there are more than 460,000 reported workplace injuries and illnesses where people were injured on the job. While construction site accidents are among the most common in New Hampshire, all workers face the risk of being hurt on the job and injured at work.

Some workplace accidents that can happen when you least expect them are:

Workplace Scaffolding Accidents

About 10 percent of all construction site accidents involve scaffolding. A full 65 percent of the country’s construction industry, or 2.3 million people, work of scaffolds. Every year, about 60 people die and more than 4,500 are injured in scaffold-related accidents. A BLS study found that 72 percent of scaffolding accidents happen when the support or planking gives out, the worker slips and falls, or the worker gets hit by a falling object. Most scaffolding accidents are the result of violations of OSHA safety standards, including:

• Improperly assembled scaffolding
• Scaffolding without handrails or guards
• Old, weak, or damaged scaffolding
• Scaffolding that has not been secured

Workplace Electrocution Accidents

Electrocution is the 4th leading cause of death on construction sites. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 350 construction workers are fatally electrocuted on the job every year and thousands more workers suffer non-fatal but serious electrocution injuries. The most common causes of electrocution on constructions sites are:

• No ground-fault protection
• Contact with power lines
• Improper grounding of equipment
• Incorrect use of extension cords
• Failing to follow manufacturer guidelines

Electrocution can be fatal, but it more often leads to serious and lifelong health consequences, including burn injuries, organ damage, cognitive problems, related injuries, and sensory issues. Always seek medical treatment immediately if you have been involved in any electrical accident.

Workplace Explosion Accidents

While falls and falling objects are the leading cause of injury and wrongful death on construction sites, there are other hazards that are potentially more dangerous. One of the lesser known construction site accidents involves burns and explosions. These accidents often leave workers unable to return to work with life-changing disabilities. Recovering from serious burns is difficult enough without the financial strain, medical bills, and mental anguish that can come with such injuries.

In many cases, these accidents are due to the negligence of another party. Explosions may result from defective equipment as well, for which a manufacturer may be liable. Worksite explosions commonly result from electrical wiring defects and gas leaks, along with the improper storage of flammable chemicals or other materials on a worksite. Pain and suffering can go on for years if not indefinitely and can affect your family life, seek legal counsel and speak to our workers compensation lawyers to understand your options.

Contact the Law Offices of Parnell, Michels & McKay

Our attorneys have over 30 years of workers compensation experience in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Our knowledge of the workers compensation laws allows us to tailor our legal advice to the specific needs of each client. Not all workers compensation cases are the same, and each involves particularized advice to address the client’s individual problems.

We use our significant knowledge of the provisions of the workers compensation laws to address our clients’ immediate problems. Workers compensation claims can be confusing and complicated. We take the time to explain the options available to our clients and then assist them in making an informed decision as to how best to proceed.

In workers compensation cases, hearings are common and can deal with almost any aspect of a claim. They are also often intimidating. Before going to a hearing, we let our clients know what to expect and how to best handle themselves and increase their chances of success.

Fees in compensation cases are controlled by statute and are subject to the approval of the Department of Labor (New Hampshire) or the Department of Industrial Accidents (Massachusetts). They are almost always contingent on us securing the compensation you deserve.

At Parnell, Michels & McKay we specialize in personal injury law such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, dog bites, workers compensation, social security disability, and other injuries. We also practice family law, including divorce, post-divorce, unwed custody and property division, and collaborative divorce. We have extensive experience in bankruptcy, probate, boundary disputes, estate planning, corporate formation and other real estate litigation.