In the dynamic world of the construction industry – safety is paramount. However, despite technological progress and safety standards, accidents still prevail, while head injuries are the most numerous.
In this article, we will look at workplace accidents that occur, as well as the types of head injuries and their real-life consequences. We will also present statistics that highlight the irreplaceable role of protective helmets and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Understanding head injuries
Head injury is a broad term that describes a wide range of injuries that occur on the skull, brain and underlying tissues and blood vessels in the head. Traumatic brain injury is the term used for brain injuries that are caused by accidents or physical impact.
A head injury can be caused by a blow or jolt, but also by a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Traumatic brain injuries occur on a spectrum, and the most common are mild injuries or concussions. Hitting your head on a locker door, falling over, or being injured while playing sports can cause one of these mild traumatic brain injuries. The most common type of traumatic brain injury is concussion, which accounts for up to 75% of all cases of traumatic brain injury. These injuries are much more common than you think; 50% of traumatic brain injuries go undiagnosed or undetected, while 90% of those diagnosed do not involve loss of consciousness.
Although you may experience pain and some neurological symptoms from a concussion, a head X-ray may not show any findings such as bleeding, bruising, or swelling. People with mild head injuries or concussions usually feel better within a few weeks, and in some cases sooner. However, moderate or severe head injuries will show up on a head scan, usually in different ways. Hematomas, especially epidural or subdural hematomas, are one of the ways in which traumatic brain injuries can manifest. Moderate to severe head injuries can also include contusions, bruising of brain tissue, or bleeding when active bleeding is present. Head injuries can also progress from one degree to another, which is why it’s important to seek medical attention. Some hematomas may appear days or even weeks after a head injury.
Although steps can be taken to evaluate possible head injuries, diagnosing concussions (especially in non-medical settings) is notoriously difficult. Only appropriately qualified medical professionals can officially diagnose a concussion; should always be approached with caution.
Common accidents at work can be blows to the side of the head, falling objects, slipping, tripping, and the like. These can be angled impacts, which can create rotational motion. The human brain is amazing, but sensitive, especially to rotational motion. Rotational movement is the result of oblique blows to the head. Almost all head impacts can cause rotational movement, which can cause stress on brain tissue, which can lead to concussions or more serious brain injuries. Dropped objects or head impacts, including slips, trips, and falls, do not always occur in a straight line; some of these impacts are oblique/angular. The moment your head hits an object or hits the ground at an angle, it can be forced to rotate to varying degrees, depending on the object or surface it hits. If the generated rotational motion is transmitted to the brain, it can cause injury to brain tissue or blood vessels connected to the brain.
The brain is more sensitive to rotational than linear motion because brain tissue is much weaker in shear than linear compression. When different parts of the brain move relative to each other due to rotational motion, the tissues can be stretched, which can cause a concussion or other brain injury. The brain, which consists mainly of water and cerebrospinal fluid, fills most of the skull. As mentioned, water is incompressible, so the brain won’t move much from a real impact. However, most angled shots result in rotational movement to the head. Rotational movements to the head cause rotation of the brain inside the skull. This causes relative movement between the skull and the brain, which can cause blood vessels to burst, as well as stress the brain and can cause TBI.
Consequences of a head injury accident in life
The consequences of an accident at work, especially one that leads to a head injury, go beyond the immediate physical injuries.
Physical impairment: Severe head injuries can result in paralysis, loss of sensory function, or cognitive impairment. Indirect and mild head injury can lead to long-term cognitive impairment. This can mean a lifelong reliance on medical support and rehabilitation.
Mental and emotional trauma: Trauma from an accident can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or anxiety, which affects the victim’s quality of life and ability to return to work.
The Study on Occupational Traumatic Brain Injury in the Construction Industry in Sweden and Germany analyzed public data on head injuries occurring in the construction industry from the Swedish and German workers’ compensation systems, 2014 – 2018. The study focuses on workers’ compensation for head injuries .
Traumatic brain injuries have been found to account for 11–22% of all head injuries and up to 61% in severe cases. Incidences of 13 (Sweden) and 117 (Germany) per 100,000 full-time workers were found, compared with 22–212 in North American studies. A limitation of studies based on workers’ compensation claims is that they underestimate the true burden of head injuries. The most common events that produced traumatic brain injuries were fall accidents in both countries.
The study emphasizes that safety helmet testing standards should assess protection against traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures. According to the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), construction workers are more likely to suffer a concussion than any other type of worker. Concussions can cause long-term problems, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and depression. These problems can significantly affect the lives of workers who suffer from them.
Statistics on accidents at the workplace in construction (traumatic brain injuries)
Workplace accidents in the construction industry can happen for many reasons, but some are more common than others. About 60,000 accidents at work involving head injuries are reported in Germany every year. Of these incidents, 1.5 per 1,000 result in death due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
A 2021 study by Brolin et al., “Work-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Construction Industry in Sweden and Germany,” states: “In the German construction industry, an estimated 49,881 work-related head injuries were reported in 2014. 2018, of which 10,800 (22%) were work-related traumatic brain injuries. 254 fatal head injuries were reported, of which 155 (61%) were traumatic brain injuries. In the same period, 1,362 new injury pensions were granted, of which 545 (40%) related to traumatic brain injuries.
Data show that around 2,200 traumatic brain injuries occur annually in Germany and 45 in Sweden. In Sweden, 11% of all occupational head injuries resulted in severe traumatic head injuries, while in Germany 22–61% of all occupational head injuries resulted in traumatic brain injuries, with a higher proportion of increased severity. The incidence of traumatic brain injury was lower in Sweden than in Germany, however, the events leading to the injuries showed many similar trends. For both countries, falls from a height were the most common event leading to severe head injury. We conclude on the importance of fall prevention in the construction industry, as well as the monitoring and management of risks related to work at heights (ie risk analysis, training and organizational aspects), as well as the use of protective equipment to prevent falls (ie climbing scaffolds and protective railings) and to mitigate injuries in the event of a fall (ie personal fall arrest systems and hard hats).”
Estimates by the International Labor Organization (ILO) show at least 60,000 fatal accidents on construction sites worldwide annually, which means that one fatal accident occurs every ten minutes. Every sixth fatal accident occurs on a construction site, making it one of the most dangerous work sectors.
Head injuries are of particular concern, as they account for the majority of fatal workplace injuries. They are often the result of falls from a height, being struck by falling objects, or accidents involving heavy machinery.
The importance of helmet safety and appropriate PPE
Recognizing the risks, the onus falls on employers and employees to prioritize helmet safety and appropriate protective equipment. Traditional protective helmets have been developed and tested for straight impacts, but studies have shown that the brain is more sensitive to rotational motion (angled impacts) than linear motion (straight impacts). Rotational movements can be dangerous and lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI). When rotational motion is involved, even impacts that may be considered light can cause a concussion due to the sensitivity of the brain.
None of the current tests for today’s helmet standards take into account the effect of rotational motion on the wearer’s head. There is currently no rotational testing within the industrial helmet standard. For now, there is only the MIPS multi-directional impact protection system on the market, which has been tested for rotational impacts and this system is currently installed only in bicycle and motorcycle helmets, but in the future it will also find application in industrial helmets.
Understanding the nuances of angled impacts and rotational injuries is critical to developing effective protective measures. It underlines the importance of protecting against direct impacts and ensuring that helmets and other protective equipment can mitigate the effects of rotational motion. We should work to ensure adequate safety of the entire workplace, when working in hazardous areas with the risk of a blow to the head. Taking the necessary precautions can help reduce the risk of serious head injuries.
With a proactive approach to safety (such as replacing your helmet with the latest technology), the frequency and severity of accidents, especially head injuries, can be reduced. For on-site workers, a hard hat is more than just part of a work suit. It symbolizes the industry’s commitment to their well-being, the promise that at the end of a hard day’s work they can safely return home to their loved ones.
You can find the entire range of head protective equipment on our website albo.biz. The Albo company has been taking care of user safety at work for 32 years with an assortment that has a wide selection of equipment, and our colleagues are always available for all consultations and additional information.