Every industry has hazards of its own. Construction is no exception. There are some specific things at the work site that pose risks to workers. It is imperative for the companies who employ these workers to ensure that these risks are minimized.

Safety is a priority for these companies. While they must make sure to provide specific equipment and training, the laws in New York clearly place liability for accidents on the employers. Here are some point to remember about construction site hazards and injuries in this state:

Scaffolds, ladders and heights

Falls are the biggest danger for construction workers. At the work site, equipment like scaffolding and ladders must be inspected before they are put to use. This should happen on every shift and not just after it is put together for the first time. Not just anyone can do this inspection. It should be a supervisor or someone is familiar with the construction of the equipment.

Workers should be given harnesses or other personal protective equipment to help prevent them from hitting the ground if they fall. Having a spotter for ladders is also a good idea. Typically, when workers are more than 10 inches off the ground, they should have some sort of safety protocol to follow.

Heavy equipment

The equipment at a construction site is another big hazard. Workers can be run over by forklifts and other machinery. They can also be pinned between those and other objects. People who operate the equipment must ensure they are being watchful. In many cases, using a spotter to ensure that nobody is going to be run over can prevent accidents and injuries.

Falling objects

Any falling object can injure workers. This is one reason why hardhats are an essential piece of equipment at a construction site. When workers are doing tasks at heights above ground, anything they are using should be harnessed or tethered to prevent the objects from falling. This includes tools like hammers and saws.

Other hazards

Some of the other hazards include electrical lines, trench collapses and repetitive motion injuries. In all of these cases, establishing proper safety procedures can help to keep workers safe from harm as they do their job duties.

When construction workers are injured, they should seek medical care. If they can’t return to work right away, they might try to obtain workers’ compensation benefits or pursue a third party personal injury claim depending on the circumstances.