Bricklayers working on building homes encounter various risks every single day. They work in difficult and dangerous conditions, sometimes high up in the air. Bricklayers are likely to experience injuries from falling from a great height due to a lack of safety equipment. The accident may also occur because they did not know how to make use of the equipment.
If you are injured while working on a construction site, you may wonder what your options are. It is important that you educate yourself about your rights. The best way to do this is to hire an Atlanta construction accident lawyer and consult them for your case.
Common injuries amongst bricklayers
The materials used by bricklayers can be heavy. Moreover, the type of task requires the workers to work at heights. Therefore, injuries arising from falling from heights and ladders are common. It can lead to various injuries, including internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatal injuries.
Some common injuries sustained by bricklayers include:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Electric shocks
- Lacerations, bruising, crush injuries from falling materials
- Cumulative injuries
- Strains, sprains, tendon damage to joints, back, shoulder, wrist
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe respiratory illnesses
One of the worst types of injuries is getting hit by a falling object on the head and incurring brain damage. Brain damage can impact your life for good and cause permanent injuries or even death.
Safety instructions for bricklayers
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Watch out for unhardened cement.
Contact with wet uncured, or unhardened concrete can cause eye damage, skin irritation, and chemical burns. This can be avoided if you wear protective equipment all the time. If you have already come in contact with wet cement, seek medical attention immediately. Do not wait for the symptoms to start showing to go to the doctor.
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Ensure all electrical goods are functioning correctly.
You do not want to die because of an extremely painful electric shock. Deaths from electric shocks at the construction site are not a very uncommon sight. It is important to ensure all the electrical appliances are in good working condition. If you see or suspect a problem in the wiring, you must immediately report it to your employer.
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Always wear respiratory equipment.
Wearing respiratory equipment protects you from inhaling toxic chemicals that can hurt your health and inflict internal injuries. You must gain the training to use the equipment in the right way. Wearing the equipment is not enough; you must also be able to use it properly.
