Carpenters Occupational Risks
In house construction industry, the field is divided into many parts where they have completely different work to achieve and get their work done effectively by assignment of workers such as: excavators, bulldozers, and other heavy equipments for digging and arrangement of the general landscape of residency, masons who are workers that are good at doing the framework of the residency, and the carpenters and painters who are the master of finishing and refining the house by putting up details and color to the residency.
Carpenters as well as are skilled in craft and trade work, wherein they perform cutting, shaping, and installation of building materials or most house’ needs and essentials during or after construction of building and even ships and bridges for living.
According to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), in specification, as a carpenter his/her main duties does the following:
- Common construction activities such as measure, cut, and mold materials
- Interpret and explain most blueprints and drawings by the contracted engineer for their client
- Estimation cost and quotation are prepared for their clients by the hired carpenter
- Explain building standard, norms, state codes, and regulation to clients
- Carpenters are as well responsible for cleaning and maintenance of their equipment and tools or even their clients.
Carpenters, construction industry related occupations in general, are known to have one of the most dangerous jobs for its contributing factors such as those sharp equipments that they use themselves, working in heights, fatigue and intense heat that results in bad dehydration, defective structures and footing that may tend to collapse and result in fall, and many more in which construction workers should watch for.
Here are some health condition that carpenters might obtain from the nature of their work:
- Constant usage and being surrounded by various sharp tools and large machineries that can cause cuts and abrasions and even being entangled in those machineries that can severe limb and affect one’s ability to earn for living
- Without proper personal protective equipment, workers might be exposed from fungi, molds, and bacteria
- Chemicals such as paints, solvents, adhesives, and other materials which may contain allergants and other bad chemicals that may cause dermatitis, allergic reactions, or even respiratory problems if not provided with proper protection when working with it
- Workers working with chemicals and being constantly exposed to dusts without protection could be at risk for cancer
- Such chemicals and materials can cause work space fire as well if not held and stored well
- Bad posture and prolonged awkward and repititive positions can cause back and neck pain can exist in the long run, stress is as well entailed when working that may develop in to more complex health conditions if left unchecked
- Overexposure to heat that may end up in dehydration and commonly fatigue
- Exposing one’s self to the risk of falling because of working at heights
Carpenters’ Experience of Risk in Retrospect
- According to International Labour Organization (ILO), around 2.3 million workers die due to work-related accidents, injuries, or diseases globally.
- According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), out of 971, there are 381 or 39.2% of total deaths in construction recorded in 2017.
- From all construction jobs, carpenters have the lowest fatality rate at 6.7 fatalities per 100,000 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- 21% of most injuries caused to construction workers by the nature of their occupation includes cuts, deep wounds that even resulted in amputation of limbs, fingers caused by nail guns, overlappings nails, and by cutting timber.
- In year 2017, 4,674 worker fatalities in private construction industry was recorded according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- 54% of total workers killed because of fall accidents and due to no provision of personal fall arrest system, while 23% do have but did not used.
Call your Construction Injury Attorney
If ever you or one of your family members has been involved or has experienced an accident in a work place because of lacking of personal protective equipments or faulty or non-ergonomic tools and equipments that is lumped as general negligence by the employer or company that has render you to sustain significant interntal injuries, you can always refer help from a professional experienced injury lawyer to smoothen things out.
Ryan Injury Lawyers is an Ohio based injury lawyer that represents victims of personal injury caused by car accidents, medical malpractice due to medical professional’s negligence, and even wrongful death against large companies, agencies and even individuals. We have 40 years of experience doing our service in this field and evidently successful with our civil litigations. Call our office now for free legal consultation.