As a construction site worker, you face exposure to a myriad of dangers, such as falling objects, slip-and-fall incidents and falling from heights. These hazards can lead to a number of injuries that could prevent you from working in the future. One of the most common injuries at the construction site is traumatic brain injuries.
According to research performed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, construction workers are at highest risk of receiving brain injuries when compared to other industries in the United States. At least one quarter of fatal construction accidents involved traumatic brain injuries during an eight-year period. Researchers also found that construction workers employed with small companies with fewer than 20 employees were more than twice as likely to die from a brain injury than people employed with larger companies.
The brain is a ball of soft tissue and nerves that sits suspended in fluid within the skull cavity. A sudden bump or jolt to the head can cause the brain to bounce back and forth and hit against the hard bone of the skull. This can cause brain bleeding, bruising, scarring and inflammation. While some symptoms may be noticeable right after the workplace accident occurs, other signs may become more apparent as time goes on. The brain may continue to swell, building up pressure within the skull cavity.
If you are involved in such an accident, keep your eye out for the following signs of brain damage:
- Consistent headache that grows in intensity
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness and fatigue
- Tingling in the extremities or muscle weakness
- Sensory deficiencies, such as trouble seeing, hearing or communicating
It is critical that you seek medical attention as soon as possible after experiencing a fall from a ladder, scaffolding or a roof, or if a falling object hits you to prevent further damage from occurring.
