Construction Workers Face Unique Workplace Dangers

As an injury attorney, I face litigation stresses on a daily basis – upcoming court deadlines, difficult depositions, various unexpected fires to put out. While my day may seem stressful to me, it is a different kind of stress. Certainly, my life is not at risk. The same can be said for a lot of us. For hte most part, teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, brokers, financial advisors – we all may have daily employment stressors but nothing compares to what construction workers face at work.

For the past few weeks, there has been heavy construction on the main road to my office in O'Fallon, Illinois. It is inconvenient, no doubt. It takes longer to move through the traffic lights. I notice motorists getting frustrated with the dust, the delays, the debris on the roadway. I understand the frustrations. But then I look over and see the vulnerable construction workers just trying to get through a days work. While they are decked out in yellow reflective wear from head to toe, motorists refuse to ackowledge that these workers are humans on the roadways, not road signs. Move over – give the workers some room! Instead of checking texts on your phone, watch the worker holding the "slow" sign and slow down!

I couldn't do what these people do. I don't like sitting in my car when someone speeds by, let alone standing on the highway without protection. Construction workers truly do risk their safety in order to make our roadways better. In recent months, I have heard about several car accidents involving construction workers in both Missouri and Illinois. I challenge everyone to slow down and be more aware in construction zones. If it were your sister, brother, mother, father, son or daughter working out there, you would want us to do the same.

Lindsay Rakers, O'Fallon Illinois contruction accident attorney