Members of construction crews put themselves at risk every day that they enter the job site. Their workplace is littered with hazardous materials and heavy machinery, and they often work from great heights on exposed roofs. Though they are at risk for many injuries, damage to their internal organs may be one of the most severe because it often leads to death. Some of the most vital organs in the body are the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs. If one of these organs suffers trauma, such as from a fall or a high-speed impact with a piece of machinery, the damage might be irreparable. The two types of trauma are blunt force and penetrating trauma. A blunt force injury might be caused by falling off a roof or being accidentally struck by a piece of heavy machinery. Penetrating trauma occurs when something pierces the skin and the organ, such as a piece of glass or a beam.
The most common types of internal organ damage are:
- Broken ribs that could puncture other organs
- Abdominal aortic rupture is the enlargement of the aorta or the main blood vessel in the abdomen. If the aneurysm bursts, it could be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
- Kidney damage could eventually lead to renal failure, a condition in which the kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood.
- A ruptured spleen could be caused by blunt trauma to the abdomen. This is when the casing around the spleen bursts, and blood pours into the surrounding area. It requires immediate medical attention and could be fatal.