Every day across Ohio, construction workers are building something.

New homes. New schools. New hospitals. New roads. New bridges. And, of course, the seemingly endless orange barrel obstacle courses that we Ohio drivers have come to know and love.

(We're pretty sure the orange construction barrel is Ohio's unofficial state flower.)

But behind every construction project are hardworking men and women doing some of the most physically demanding and potentially dangerous jobs in our state.

During Construction Safety Week, The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC wants to recognize the people who build Ohio and remind everyone that workplace safety isn't just a good idea. It can be the difference between going home to your family at the end of the day and ending up in a hospital.

🦺 Construction Work Comes With Real Risks

Construction sites are constantly changing. One day, a worker may be pouring concrete. The next, they're working on scaffolding, operating heavy equipment or carrying materials across an unfinished job site.

And with those changing conditions come hazards.

Some of the most common include:

• Falls from heights: Ladders, scaffolding, roofs and elevated platforms can turn a momentary mistake into a life-changing injury.
• Struck-by accidents: Falling tools, moving equipment and swinging loads can cause serious injuries.
• Caught-in or caught-between accidents: Machinery, trenches and heavy materials can create dangerous situations.
• Electrical hazards: Contact with energized equipment or power lines can result in severe injuries or death.
• Overexertion and lifting injuries: Heavy materials and repetitive physical work can take a toll on backs, shoulders, knees and other body parts.
• Slips and trips: Uneven ground, loose materials, mud, rain and debris create hazards even when workers are standing on solid ground.

And while we appreciate the creativity of construction workers, “I've done it this way for 20 years and nothing bad has happened yet” isn't an OSHA-approved safety procedure.

🔨 Safety Is Everyone's Responsibility

Construction safety isn't just about wearing a hard hat and hoping for the best.

It requires planning, training, proper equipment and communication.

Employers and contractors should identify hazards, provide appropriate protective equipment, maintain safe working conditions and ensure workers receive necessary training.

Workers also play an important role by following safety procedures, using protective equipment correctly, communicating with coworkers and reporting dangerous conditions.

And perhaps most importantly, everyone needs to remember that no deadline is worth someone's life or health.

Getting a project finished on time matters. Getting everyone home safely matters more.

⚖️ What Happens When a Construction Worker Gets Hurt in Ohio?

Despite everyone's best efforts, workplace accidents still happen.

Fortunately, Ohio has a workers' compensation system designed to provide benefits for workers who suffer compensable injuries or occupational diseases arising from their employment.

Ohio workers' compensation is generally a no-fault system. That means an injured construction worker usually doesn't have to prove that the employer did something wrong to qualify for benefits.

Depending on the circumstances, benefits may include medical treatment, temporary total disability compensation, wage loss compensation, permanent partial disability compensation and other benefits provided by Ohio law.

And here's something construction workers should understand:

You don't necessarily lose your right to workers' compensation benefits just because you made a mistake that contributed to your injury.

Workers' compensation is not supposed to be a contest to determine who was the perfect employee on the day of the accident.

Of course, there are exceptions and legal requirements, and every claim depends on its particular facts.

Ohio law also provides additional compensation in certain cases involving violations of specific safety requirements, commonly called VSSR claims.

These claims are separate from ordinary workers' compensation benefits and involve additional legal requirements.

🏗️ The Most Important Thing Built on Any Job Site Is a Culture of Safety

Construction workers take pride in what they build.

Years from now, someone may drive across a bridge, attend a school, visit a hospital or live in a home that exists because of the work those men and women performed.

That's something worth celebrating.

But the greatest accomplishment of any construction project isn't finishing ahead of schedule or under budget.

It's sending every worker home safely at the end of the day.

For more than three decades, The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC has represented injured Ohio workers, including the men and women who work in construction and the skilled trades.

We've seen what can happen when safety measures fail. We've also seen the determination of injured workers and their families as they work toward recovery.

Above all, please stay safe out there.  We don’t need clients that badly and we don’t want to bow our heads at a Workers’ Memorial Day remembrance with your name being called. 

During Construction Safety Week, we thank Ohio's construction workers for everything they do to build and maintain our communities.

Keep building Ohio. Keep looking out for one another. And above all, stay safe!

Because the only thing we want falling on a construction site is the temperature as we move into autumn.

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