As a construction worker, you don’t want to think about the fact that you could suffer an injury on the job. However, when you least expect it, something bad could happen.
Should you suffer a workplace injury, it’s important to do the following:
- Stop what you’re doing to assess your health
- Report the injury to your employer
- Seek medical care
- Follow the treatment plan shared by your doctor
- File a claim for workers’ compensation if you can’t return to work
An understanding of the most common types of injuries among construction workers can help you prevent trouble. Here are five to protect against:
- Broken bones: This type of injury can occur for many reasons, ranging from a fall from height to a vehicle accident. Every bone in your body is at risk in the event of an accident.
- Severe lacerations: For example, if you have a run-in with a table saw or circular saw, it could result in a severe laceration that requires stitches and possible surgery, in the event of damage to tendons or ligaments.
- Strains and sprains: These aren’t the most serious injuries, but they can cause you pain and discomfort nonetheless. For example, a severe neck sprain requires medical attention and may call for you to spend several weeks away from the job.
- Torn ligaments: Take, for instance, a situation in which you step into a deep hole while carrying a heavy load. Your knee or ankle could buckle, thus resulting in torn ligaments that require extended rest and/or surgery.
- Brain injury: This includes injuries such as a concussion, skull fracture and bleeding on the brain. Brain injuries are among the most serious, as they require immediate treatment to stabilize your health and prevent future complications.
If you suffer one or more of these injuries in a construction site accident, don’t wait to receive medical treatment. Without this, you’ll never know exactly what’s wrong. Not to mention the fact that it can harm your long-term health.
If your medical team suggests time away from work to recover, you shouldn’t wait to file a workers’ compensation claim. This money will help stabilize your finances on your road to recovery.