Beware of Construction Site Injuries

Working on a construction site is possibly one of the most dangerous jobs in America today.

No one knows better than construction workers how dangerous their
jobs are on a daily basis. The number of built in hazards prevalent on
a job site are phenomenal and the most dangerous accidents usually
relate to lifting and moving heavy equipment and parts. Because of the
heavy use of such equipment, it only stands to reason that Occupational
Health and Safety statistics indicate that slings, used to move heavy
materials, and how they are handled during moving, is “the” major cause
of workplace injuries and accidents.

Most of the slings in use across the nation at construction sites
are made of wire rope, chain and nylon. If the workers don’t have a
good enough understanding of how these slings work properly and how to
handle the materials being moved, each time something is moved is
virtually an accident waiting to happen. It may also be viewed as
negligence on the part of the employer if they do not have the proper
safety standards in place or instruct their workers on how to handle
materials in the proper manner.

For instance, nylon slings are not only strong, but have a certain
elasticity. When bearing a heavy load, these slings tend to absorb
shock and return to their original shape after release, much like an
elastic band. This characteristic makes this material ideal for
repetitive lifting, etc. They handle moisture and most chemicals
(alkalis) and may be used inside or outside, rain or shine, and in
temperatures of up to 180 degrees F.
When working with nylon any adjustments to be made to the sling are
very simple. The trick is to make the adjustments correctly and not
overload the sling on a continuous basis. While this type of sling
material does provide a warning when it’s getting damaged (red
indicator yarn) there have been cases where the sling was kept in use
past being safe. The results were not pretty for the worker injured
when the material being moved fell on him.

Chain slings don’t have the same abilities as nylon and are prone to
snap unexpectedly. They need to be inspected prior to use for flaws and
signs of wear and tear. If this is not carried out on a regular basis,
or if the sling is used for loads that crush the sling itself, it
compromises the integrity and safety of the apparatus. Again, an
improperly cared for sling may result in disastrous consequences for
those working on the job site.

Wire rope slings are a combination of twisted wires over a fiber
core, each with a different degree of flexibility and damage tolerance.
They are susceptible to fraying and moist conditions and if they are
used well past their safety tolerance, accidents can and will happen.
While there are a great number of alternatives for sling, hitches,
baskets, etc. that may be used on construction work sites, all of them
still need to be respected for their potential to cause deadly harm.
Parts and any equipment is replaceable, people are not.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a construction site work
accident, make it a point to talk to a highly skilled personal injury
attorney with experience in handling cases such as this. Any severe
life altering injuries may be eligible for compensation from the
courts. Your lawyer will be able to advise you of your rights.

Seth Wilburn writes for the Gomez Law Group, a Dallas employment lawyer and Dallas business lawyer. To learn more, visit Gomezlawyers.com.