Construction projects are chaotic work sites with many different types of equipment, business entities, and dangerous hazards.  There are dozens of unsafe conditions that can result in serious injury or even wrongful death on a construction site.  One of the most dangerous types of construction accident hazards involve confined spaces.  A confined space accident on a construction site can result in permanent life-altering injuries caused by electrocution, exposure to toxic substances, explosions, and other potentially dangerous hazards.

A confined space on a construction worksite is one that has a limited path of access in and out of the area.  Although OSHA has regulations regarding working in confined spaces, some employers are lax in enforcing these regulations or provide inadequate confined space training.  Because an individual’s presence in a confined space often involves exposure to hazardous substances, such as an oxygen deficient environment or toxic chemicals, construction workers must be extremely cautious when working in this type of setting.

Confined space construction accidents involve the risk of serious injury because of exposure to lack of oxygen, toxic gas, vapors, liquids, fire, extreme thermal conditions, free flowing solids, or other similar substances within an area with limited access for a construction worker to exit the confined space.  Some common examples of confined space hazards on construction projects include the following:

  • Manholes
  • Underground vaults
  • Pits
  • Pipe assemblies
  • Underground storage tanks
  • Tunnels

Safety requirements for working in confined spaces on construction sites include making a determination as to whether the work can safely be performed from outside the small area.  If work must be performed from inside the confined space, then appropriate safety equipment and precautions must be implemented.  Confined spaces should be appropriately marked, and any workers that enter these spaces should receive OSHA compliant training.

A person injured in a confined space accident on a Mississippi construction site might suffer injuries because of a failure to utilize appropriate safety measures, including the following:

  • Use of personal protective equipment (i.e., hard hats, ventilators, etc.)
  • Evaluation of flammability of the atmosphere
  • Ventilation testing
  • Product instability
  • Proper analysis of risk for release of hazardous energy

There are many serious types of accidents that can occur in a confined space on a construction project, including drowning, suffocation, asphyxiation, fire, chemical burns, radiation exposure, and explosions.  These types of serious incidents can result in severe and permanently disabling injuries.  Litigation of confined space construction accidents is challenging because there are many different entities on a construction project that may share responsibility for the accident.  Our experienced Mississippi construction accident lawyers always carefully evaluate the potential liability of third parties so that our clients can seek more extensive damages than those permitted under the worker’s compensation system.

If you or your loved one is injured on the site of a building project, you are invited to contact the experienced construction accident lawyers at Barrett Law to learn how we can help.  Our Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyers at Barrett Law have been representing accident victims throughout Mississippi for over 75 years.  We offer personalized legal representation and zealous advocacy.  We provide a free initial case evaluation so call us today at (800) 707-9577.  No Recovery No Fee!