Mar 1, 2021

Construction Workers Are at the Highest Risk of Traumatic Brain Injuries

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month! As such, we believe it is important to educate on the workplace risks that often result in traumatic brain injuries within the construction industry and what can be done to prevent such occurrences.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the construction industry has the most number of fatal and nonfatal traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among all of the U.S. workplaces. Some of the most common causes of head trauma and brain injuries include:

  • Falls from heights
  • Being struck in the head by objects, such as steel beams or other equipment
  • Getting hit by a vehicle moving supplies
  • Materials falling from above

How Common Are Brain Injuries in the Construction Industry?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) is a federal agency responsible for conducting research on occupational risks and making recommendations on how to improve the safety of workplaces across the country.

In 2016, the agency published a report in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine detailing the prevalence of TBI in the construction industry over an eight-year period. Some of the key findings include:

  • TBI represented one-quarter of all construction worker fatalities.
  • More than 2,200 construction workers died as a result of TBI.
  • More than half of these fatalities were the result of falls (specifically, from roofs, ladders, and scaffolds).
  • Male workers were 7 times more likely than females to die of TBI.
  • Older workers (those 65 years of age or older) were nearly four times as likely than younger workers to sustain a fatal TBI.
  • Structural iron and steel workers and roofers had the highest fatal TBI rate.

Can I Get Benefits If I Sustained a TBI at Work?

If you were involved in a work-related accident as a construction worker that led to a TBI, you may be able to pursue workers’ compensation benefits if you are a full-fledged employee of your company (versus an independent contractor). Such benefits can be used to cover the cost of your:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Psychological damages

At Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, we understand that brain injuries can lead to life-threatening or lifelong consequences. Our workers’ compensation attorneys are committed to protecting injured construction workers in Atlanta and the surrounding areas by helping them obtain the maximum benefits they deserve and need to recover.

Contact our firm at 770-922-3660 to speak with our legal team for free today!