Texas workers may benefit from new safety helmets that offer better protection in the event of falls. From 2003 to 2010, there were 2,210 fatal traumatic brain injuries resulting from construction industry accidents. Falls were the most common cause of such injuries, and those who were 65 and older had the highest death rates from TBI. Overall, there were 2.6 deaths for every 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
One of the advantages of the new helmet design is that it is less likely to fall off of a worker’s head. Research into the design has been undertaken by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health since the early 1970s. OSHA stipulates that all workers who face an increased risk of a head injury be given protective headgear. They must meet or exceed American National Standards Institute Z89.1-2009 standards.
Construction helmets used today are brimmed with suspension bands inside of them. This is done to allow the weight of the hat and any falling object. There is about an inch between the shell and a person’s head, which reduces the odds that any impact from an object or a fall will be directly transferred to that person’s skull.
If an employee is hurt in an construction site accident, workers’ compensation benefits should be available. These can include the payment or reimbursement of medical expenses, and in some cases injured victims who miss work can receive a percentage of wages that were lost. An attorney can often help to ensure that the required claim documentation is complete and that it is filed within the time period specified by law.