Missouri Work Injury Lawyer: Injuries from Falling Construction Debris

Injuries from falling debris are more common in some areas of a construction site.

Construction is booming the state of Missouri – new buildings and commercial building are being constructed all over the state. You may be so accustomed to the sight and sound of new constructions that you may not even bother thinking about your own safety when walking through a construction site. It is no wonder then that many pedestrians get injured from falling construction debris every year in Missouri.
If a pedestrian or bystander suffers an injury from falling debris as a result of any mistake by a construction worker or contractor, he or she may be entitled to financial compensation from the party at fault. If a worker is injured on the job, they will likely be entitled to Missouri workers’ compensation benefits.

Areas where Injuries from Falling Construction Debris are Common

Injuries from falling debris are more common in some areas of a construction site. As a pedestrian, you should be aware of those danger zones and be extra careful when walking through those zones.

Tall buildings under construction – Falling of construction materials or tools from a high-rise building under construction is a common cause of pedestrian injuries. In some cases, even some parts of the building may collapse and cause a serious accident.

Areas underneath scaffolding – Construction workers often need to work on scaffoldings to repair, build, or paint a high-rise building. Ideally, pedestrians and bystanders should be prohibited from entering the zone underneath the scaffolding. Otherwise, serious accidents may occur. For instance, heavy construction tools and materials may fall onto the people standing or walking through the area underneath the scaffolding. In some unfortunate cases, the scaffolding itself may collapse and result in a serious accident.

Sides of under-construction buildings – Debris may fall from sides of a building under construction or renovation as well. For instance, a wooden window frame may fall from a great height onto a pedestrian while repair work is going on the sides of a building.

Debris that may Fall from a Missouri Construction Site

Injuries may occur from falling of different types of construction debris, such as,

• Construction tools, including saws, scrapers, and hammers
• Window frames and panels made of wood or glass
• Broken concrete materials or bricks or wooden structures

Steps to Take to Prevent Accidents from Falling Debris

• Putting up enough safety signs in a construction site to make people aware of the danger zones
• Creating barricades restrict the entry of the pedestrians and bystanders in the danger zones
• Ensuring regular inspection and maintenance of the construction tools so that injuries caused by equipment failure can be prevented
• Double-checking all platforms and tools to make sure they are properly secured
• Using safety nets for fall protection and thus ensuring that any objects accidentally dropped from height do not fall onto the pedestrians underneath.