Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Risks in Construction

Construction work can lead to severe injuries, with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) being among the most severe and debilitating. Understanding the frequency, causes, and preventive measures regarding construction accident TBIs is vital for those affected by head injuries at construction sites.

Seeking compensation for a traumatic brain injury

If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI in a Pennsylvania construction accident, seeking legal help from an experienced construction accident lawyer can be crucial. An attorney can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

Essentially, it's a form of head injury that directly impacts the brain. A TBI can lead to temporary or permanent impairment of a person's cognitive abilities and overall brain function. Though classified as "mild," a concussion is one of the most common forms of TBI.

Types of traumatic brain injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can manifest in various forms, typically categorized into two broad types of head injuries:

Non-penetrating TBI: This type occurs when a brain injury develops as a result of the brain moving within the skull without any object penetrating the skull. Non-penetrating TBIs are generally more common.
Penetrating TBI: In this scenario, an object pierces through the skull, causing direct brain injury.

TBIs can also be classified based on their severity:

Mild TBIs, encompassing concussions and cases where victims don't lose consciousness.
Moderate TBIs, involving a loss of consciousness lasting from 30 minutes to 24 hours.
Severe TBIs, characterized by a loss of consciousness for over 24 hours.

How common are TBIs in the construction?

Construction sites are alarmingly frequent settings for traumatic brain injuries. In fact, these sites surpass all other workplaces in the country in terms of TBI occurrences, as highlighted in a 2022 workplace accident report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The statistics reveal that between 2003 and 2010, a total of 2,210 construction workers tragically lost their lives due to work-related TBIs. According to the CDC's findings, these devastating numbers represent a significant portion, accounting for 25 percent of all construction fatalities and 24 percent of all work-related TBI deaths across various industries.

Causes of construction-related head injuries

Construction-related head injuries are frequently linked to unsafe working conditions and scenarios, such as:

Falling objects striking construction workers in the head.
Inadequately secured or installed scaffolding or ladders, leading to construction workers falling from heights or scaffolding collapses.
Failure to provide construction workers with essential personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats.
Falls from roofs or scaffolding, resulting in head injuries upon impact.
Neglect by construction companies to furnish safety training for their workers, leaving them ill-equipped to navigate hazardous situations.

Preventing TBIs on the job site

To enhance job site safety and minimize construction-related TBIs, both Occupational Health & Safety Magazine and the CDC offer several recommendations:

Equip construction workers with essential personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety harnesses, and other devices specifically designed to mitigate head injuries.
Ensure construction workers receive comprehensive, up-to-date safety training to address potential risks effectively.
Establish a well-defined response plan in the event of a TBI, minimizing response time and ensuring prompt medical attention for TBI victims.
Conduct regular inspections of construction sites, particularly when workers are operating at elevated heights, such as scaffolding or roofs. These inspections help identify and rectify potential hazards promptly.

Contact a Pennsylvania construction accident attorney

Experiencing a traumatic brain injury can be life-altering, and if it happened due to someone else's negligence or a workplace accident, you deserve rightful compensation for your losses.

At Vellner Law, PC, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges that follow a work-related TBI. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to helping head injury victims and their families pursue the compensation they deserve.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, don't hesitate to contact us today to review your potential legal options. Our offices are located in Bethlehem and Allentown, and we represent injured workers throughout Pennsylvania.