Construction laborers’ job duties are among the toughest in industry causing among the highest rates of injuries and workers compensation claims. The most common work-related injury we see in laborers is a herniated disc in the low back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine). Neck and low back on the job injuries affect construction laborers as part of their jobs. Injuries occur from a single lifting accident, like helping pick up cinder blocks. Or a spine condition can build up over time, sometimes called disc degeneration, from repetitive lifting, twisting and turning job duties on the construction jobs.
Construction laborers in our area are represented by the Laborers’ Local 113 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America – LIUNA. Our office represents union and nonunion laborers, the only question being that the neck or low back injured on the job or from job duties over time.
The physical demands required of a construction laborer include lift heavy objects, walk and stand for long periods of time and performing strenuous physical labor under difficult field conditions. Laborers lift, push, pull and carry heavy and awkward objects; laborers uses abdominal and low back muscles to provide support over time and must effectively jumps, sprints or throws objects. Laborers must have good manual dexterity (hand, hand with arm, two hands) and athletic coordination. Laborers need the ability to quickly move arms and legs and have excellent stamina. Construction laborers regularly lift over 100 lbs. and push/pull many hundreds of pounds every day.
Construction laborers are essential to society, helping build things we all use:
Building new homes and businesses
Tearing down old structures
Removing hazardous materials
Building highways and roads
Digging tunnels for subways and sewers
On the jobsite, construction laborers are responsible for cleaning and preparing construction sites for the erection of structures and buildings. They unload and load materials, reads plans and specifications, tends machines, mix and pour concrete, and assist carpenters, masons, operating engineers, and other construction site workers.
Laborers incur work-related injuries that should be covered by workers comp when doing any of the following tasks: demolitions, working underground in tunnels and sewer systems, removing trees and debris, servicing machines, including pumps, compressors, generators, tractors, and trailers; mixing and pouring concrete, grout, cement, sand, or plaster; using spray guns for application of material to ceilings or walls; setting up or taking down traffic or site control devices or fencing; digging trenches, installing sewer, water, and storm drainpipes; laying concrete and asphalt onto roads; operate air, electric, and pneumatic drills; removing hazardous materials; operating pavement breakers, jackhammers, earth tampers, concrete, mortar, and plaster mixers; or just stepping wrong.
McCormick Law Office attorneys in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Believe in better.
