The construction industry is notorious for having many unique hazards that require careful mitigation to safely work around. Companies that fail to provide adequate training and experience to their employees may unknowingly increase the chances of injury to one or more of their workers.
Situations, where an incident causes injury to a worker who is not in the United States but working for an American entity, may create an entirely different set of challenges, especially for the injured worker seeking compensation.
Protection for workers
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the creation of protections such as the Defense Base Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, are to provide support to injured workers stationed outside of the country. Contracted civilian workers who perform under the direction of the federal government are eligible for compensation for injuries received on a job.
Preventing on-sight accidents
The prevention of construction accidents is a goal that requires teamwork. Officials providing training and instruction must do their part to provide adequate protective gear, monitor maintenance and repairs of machinery and equipment, and implement thorough safety logs to verify the integrity of different aspects of a project. Likewise, workers must perform the functions of their job with attention to detail and vigilance. Responsibility, thorough communication, use of all provided safety equipment and involvement in safety training are other ways that workers can optimize their protection.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine Natural Institutes of Health suggests that officials conduct regular assessments to verify that workers are following the rules and protocols designed to protect them. Experts also recommend the completion of an analysis to determine potential hazards on a job site before they turn into a threat.
