Construction workers often endure hours of physically and mentally taxing labor and to perform their daily job functions and prevent injuries, they need to get enough sleep.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, reports that one in three adults don’t get enough sleep. Adults 18-60 years old are urged to sleep at least seven hours per night but the average American only gets 6.8 hours of sleep per night and 40 percent of Americans sleep six hours or less. This culture of inadequate sleep impacts everyone, including construction workers.

Researchers find that construction workers need adequate sleep

A study conducted by researchers at Colorado State University concluded that many accidents and injuries in the construction industry are caused by lack of sleep.

Researchers collected data from three surveys over the course of 12 months involving construction workers from two public works departments in Portland, Oregon. The survey — which was part of an Oregon Healthy Workforce Center study — determined the quantity of sleep each participant received and matched it up with workplace injury data.

Construction workers who reported insomnia symptoms were more likely to experience:

• Poor attention and memory on the job
• Poor safety-related behavior
• Forgetting common work procedures, such as ensuring equipment is turned off
• Inadvertently pressing wrong control switches on machines
• Unintentionally stopping or starting wrong machines
• Daydreaming on the job and not listening to co-workers

Preventing fatigue-related workplace accidents

Inadequate sleep doesn’t just impact construction safety. It can put workers across all industries at risk of being injured. That’s why more awareness must be raised in the workplace.

“Organizations, especially safety-sensitive ones like construction, should care about their employees’ sleep because it can impact the safety of the workplace and put workers at risk,” said Rebecca Brossoit, the study’s co-author, in a press release.

If you were injured on the job due to a careless, fatigue-related workplace accident, your injuries may be serious enough to require immediate medical attention. What’s worse, you may not be able to return to work for months while undergoing surgery and physical therapy. The x-rays, pain medication, and other medical procedures can be costly. You may be wondering how you will afford to make ends meet during these difficult times.

That’s why you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, which cover your medical expenses and lost wages. Obtaining workers’ compensation benefits, however, isn’t easy. A minor misstep in your paperwork or in the claim-filing process can result in a denial. Let the experienced Massachusetts attorneys at Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl do the work for you. We know how the system works and can maximize your chances of receiving benefits. Contact us online today to get started.

Traffic accidents occur on US roads at an alarming rate and sometimes roadside workers are killed. Safety + Health Magazine reports that roadside construction worker deaths have increased by 43 percent from 2013-2016. Workers who direct traffic or operate as crossing guards are at the highest risk of being struck and killed by cars.

Roadside worker deaths are often caused by:

• Drivers speeding in work zones
• Distracted driving
• Poor visibility
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Hazardous road or weather conditions

A Massachusetts roadside worker’s death raises safety concerns

The death of a Massachusetts National Grid worker who was struck by an SUV while on the job has raised concerns among safety advocates, according to the Boston Herald.

Spencer police confirmed that the man succumbed to injuries that he sustained on July 31. The man was marking underground piping for an upcoming construction project in the eastbound lane on Main Street. An investigation into the accident was conducted by police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“We know that working around vehicles is very dangerous,” said Jodi Sugerman-Brozan, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH). ” We implore all employers to take the time to create as safe a worksite as they possibly can to protect the lives of those who work for them.”

According to MassCOSH, there was no work zone set up at the time the worker was fatally struck. In addition, there were no traffic cones or signs set up and no police presence.

The man was the third worker killed this year by a moving vehicle, but a total of six workers have died throughout Massachusetts in 2019 in transportation-related incidents. In 2018, a total of 17 workers died, which accounted for 29 percent of all statewide worker fatalities.

Suggestions for safer roadside worksites

In order to ensure a safe roadside worksite, supervisors are urged to follow the guidelines laid out in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, published by the Federal Highway Administration.

Rather than setting up signs on roadside worksites, supervisors should utilize colored or marked vehicles. These vehicles should be equipped with bright rotating or flashing lights that are easily visible to drivers. In addition, vehicles should include highly-visible signs and arrow panels.

If you’re a roadside worker who was hurt on the job, you are within your rights to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. The legal team at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl can help guide you through this complex process and negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement. Contact us today to get started.