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Restoring Dignity & Control After An Injury 

Construction worker suffers back injury after fall

On Behalf of | Sep 26, 2017 | Construction Accidents |

Construction workers face a potentially untold number of hazards when on the job, and yet Illinois employers continue to put these individuals in harm’s way. While unsettling, it might come as no surprise that an area man was seriously injured after a fall at a construction site. He suffered multiple injuries — including a back injury — that required hospitalization.

The 49-year-old construction worker was on site at a historic aqueduct. The aqueduct — which had sustained serious damage during 2013 flooding — was under contract to be demolished and removed, although the project was still awaiting state approval. The worker and one other individual were on the work site cleaning and removing debris off the aqueduct when the accident happened.

A concrete slab split after the other worker cut through it, causing the victim to fall approximately 12 feet. He landed on exposed rebar, which are rods of steel used to reinforce concrete. The fall injured his lower spinal cord and caused him to suffer at least one collapsed lung. Emergency responders determined that he was in serious condition when they transported him to an area hospital.

Illinois employers continue to fail construction workers when they do not provide adequate safety gear, which includes equipment to prevent falls when working at significant heights. When a worker suffers a back injury or related damage from a workplace accident, he or she is justified in seeking workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can help financially support an injured worker during recovery, allowing the worker to focus on his or her health and well-being instead of rushing back to work prior to healing fully.

Source: theherald-news.com, “Joliet construction worker airlifted after 12-foot fall from historic Morris aqueduct“, Lindsay Gloor, Sept. 23, 2017

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