The early part of the 20th Century saw the United States enjoy an unprecedented building boom, both for residential and commercial properties. This was obviously a benefit to the overall economy, as more people own homes and commercial property now than ever before. Owning property is one of the safest and most reliable investments available for many reasons, but there was also an upswing in one unfortunate variable in regards to this boom – a distinct rise in construction accidents.

Below is a look at some of the construction accidents that have occurred with alarming frequency in recent years, but you also need to understand that if you’ve been injured in a construction accident, you need to contact a construction injury lawyer as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation.

Construction Falls

Statistics compiled by the government show that on average, more than 1,200 construction workers are killed every year in the United States, and this industry also leads the way in terms of workplace injuries. The same statistical compilation that was formulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the most common type of construction worker injury is the fall, and that makes sense.

Construction workers are required to climb upon structures that are not stable in order to complete certain aspects of a building job, and certain situations and occurrences lead to a construction worker falling from extremely dangerous heights. This also falls in line with the fact that the most common construction worker injury is to the back, as the back is what normally takes the brunt of a fall.

Scaffolding Worker Injury

Another extremely common construction worker injury is the scaffolding worker injury, and this, too, was one of the leading causes of missed work time and serious injuries within the construction industry. Scaffolding is often built with only a temporary means of access in mind, and as a result these structures are often unstable in nature. Therefore, the types of construction accidents that can occur include falling from the scaffolding, head injuries from falling debris from the top of the scaffolding and a plethora of “other” injuries that result from the collapse of the scaffolding.

Welding Injury

Every year, more than 10,000 people are injured as a result of a welding accident. Welding is an inherently hazardous duty to perform, and as you may guess, the leading type of construction injuries that occur as a result of welding is an injury to the eye or eyes. Welding guns produce heat that tops 1,000 degrees, which means that this flame or heat causes serious injuries when making contact with the eyes.

Of course, there are many other causes and types of construction worker injuries. If you have been injured on the job, you may have the right to file a construction accident lawsuit. Contact a construction injury lawyer today to get the process of protecting and enforcing your rights started.

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The early part of the 20th Century saw the United States enjoy an unprecedented building boom, both for residential and commercial properties. This was obviously a benefit to the overall economy, as more people own homes and commercial property now than ever before. Owning property is one of the safest and most reliable investments available for many reasons, but there was also an upswing in one unfortunate variable in regards to this boom – a distinct rise in construction accidents.

Below is a look at some of the construction accidents that have occurred with alarming frequency in recent years, but you also need to understand that if you’ve been injured in a construction accident, you need to contact a construction injury lawyer as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation.

Construction Falls

Statistics compiled by the government show that on average, more than 1,200 construction workers are killed every year in the United States, and this industry also leads the way in terms of workplace injuries. The same statistical compilation that was formulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the most common type of construction worker injury is the fall, and that makes sense.

Construction workers are required to climb upon structures that are not stable in order to complete certain aspects of a building job, and certain situations and occurrences lead to a construction worker falling from extremely dangerous heights. This also falls in line with the fact that the most common construction worker injury is to the back, as the back is what normally takes the brunt of a fall.

Scaffolding Worker Injury

Another extremely common construction worker injury is the scaffolding worker injury, and this, too, was one of the leading causes of missed work time and serious injuries within the construction industry. Scaffolding is often built with only a temporary means of access in mind, and as a result these structures are often unstable in nature. Therefore, the types of construction accidents that can occur include falling from the scaffolding, head injuries from falling debris from the top of the scaffolding and a plethora of “other” injuries that result from the collapse of the scaffolding.

Welding Injury

Every year, more than 10,000 people are injured as a result of a welding accident. Welding is an inherently hazardous duty to perform, and as you may guess, the leading type of construction injuries that occur as a result of welding is an injury to the eye or eyes. Welding guns produce heat that tops 1,000 degrees, which means that this flame or heat causes serious injuries when making contact with the eyes.

Of course, there are many other causes and types of construction worker injuries. If you have been injured on the job, you may have the right to file a construction accident lawsuit. Contact a construction injury lawyer today to get the process of protecting and enforcing your rights started.

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Home is the place where it feels just right to walk around without shoes. It is the place with which we associate feelings of safety, security, comfort and a sense of belonging, among many other things. So we try to put all our resources towards building a house that fulfills all our requirements, in fact this is one way of realizing our dreams. Building constructions is one industry which is thriving these days; you will find that lots of buildings are being constructed and invariably you will find that most people are trying to build their dream house. With the revolution that is happening in the field of science and technology, things have changed for the better for all of us. The building construction industry earlier, had limited scope of operating, but now with easy access to money, things have changed for the better. So, today you will come across many people looking for a professional, who works in the building constructions industry, to build their dream house.

When we were kids, all of us had a dream of building our dream house; we had in our mind all that we want in our dream house. The art classes that we used to attend when we were kids, was one a place where we used to give a shape, size and color to all our dreams about the perfect house, where we would like to dwell in, sometime in life when we have the capacity. So when we finally have all the resources in place to construct our dream house, we need the services of an efficient building construction professional for this. All of us know that it is important to find out the capability of any professional before you hire their services for your work. So there is no exception to this in the case of building construction professionals.

We want the best in our house, so we put in all the efforts possible, to make sure that we make the house just as we want. There are lots of things that are associated with the building of a house and most owners insist on enlisting the services of a vaastu shastra expert or a feng shui expert, before constructing the house. These are traditional methods that help in finding out about suitable directions of various rooms, which are related to the construction of a building. In fact most of the building constructions professionals these days, insist on having an expert onboard to help out clients who want to adopt all this practices while constructing their dream house.

Building constructions may seem to be a very expensive domain for the ordinary people, but it is not so. Today we have several financing facilities available in the form of loans. This makes the whole process of constructing a house with the help of building constructing officials, pretty easy. Home loans and house construction loans are available with many loan providing agencies and getting the loan is quite easy. In today’s context, building a house is relatively easy, you just need to make sure that you are dealing with efficient building constructions officials, if you want to build your dream house just the way you have always wanted.

Excellent project management for construction engagements is crucial for any new building or renovation, especially considering the growing complexity of major construction projects and construction-related laws. For these reasons, almost all positions opening up for construction management jobs require not only a specialized degree, but a good deal of experience in the industry.

Although it was not always the case, there are many universities that now offer construction management courses as well as degrees. In fact, there even a number of accredited online universities that offer project management for construction degrees. An online degree in construction management can be specialized in a number of ways and is one way to learn the essential skills you need to know for jobs in construction management that can be difficult to learn during internships or apprenticeships on-site.

Construction management jobs take on a variety of responsibilities. Oftentimes managers in these roles are ultimately responsible for every aspect of the construction project. This includes managing all employees and contractors, all equipment used and the project budget. That is why is important to choose a degree in

project management for construction that teaches you a broad skill-set.

Some of the degree coursework that can give you an edge in the job market includes training on the latest software programs and technologies used in the industry and classes on any of the following topics: building codes and standards, contract administration, accounting, financial management, value analysis and project control and management.

It is ideal if you can find a university that will help place its project management for construction students into internships or apprenticeships during the degree program. This will give you the chance to learn a little bit about every aspect of construction and how you can effectively manage the employees and contractors you will need to work with, including architects, civil engineers and day laborers. This type of hands-on experience is exactly what most employers are looking for, and can oftentimes lead to full-time positions once you have graduated with your degree.

Although project management for construction can be a challenging career path, there are many reasons that it is worth the effort. There are more and more project management for construction jobs being filled every year, and according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average salary for project management for construction positions averaged ,500 in 2002. These great salaries are also often accompanied by health benefits, bonuses and the use of company-owned vehicles. All of these factors indicate it is a great career to aim for that can be just as rewarding as it is challenging.

The following are some statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics on safety and on-the-job injuries in the construction industry:

* One of every five workplace fatalities is a construction worker.

* There were 1,225 fatal occupational injuries in construction in 2001, excluding fatalities on September 11. Also in 2001, there were 481,400 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in construction. Incidence rates for nonfatal injuries and illnesses were 7.9 per 100 full-time equivalent workers in construction, and 5.7 per 100 full-time equivalent workers in all private industry in 2001.

* Because only about 10% of construction companies employ more than 20 workers, the great majority have no formal job safety regulations or programs in place.

* In 1992, the “lost-workday” rate for workers in the construction industry was 5.7 per every 100 full-time workers. The lost-workday due to injury rate in the construction industry is greater than in any other industry.

* Nationwide, about 15% of workers’ compensation costs are attributable to injuries in the construction industry.

Almost every injury that construction workers suffer could makes the worker eligible for workers compensation rights. Legal actions against people with in authority positions such as general contractors, construction managers, equipment manufacturers, or subcontractors can supplement the constrained rights. The individual circumstances of the accident and how the complicated laws will be applied to it will affect these rights.

For example, in most construction projects, many different contractors are involved. If any contractor other than the direct employer has responsibility for the injuries, full damages can be recovered. Likewise, if a defective tool, machine, or other product causes injury, an injured worker can be fully compensated.

Construction workers have a right to a safe workplace according to OSHA, the Federal governing body for occupational safety and health. If a workplace hazard exists and action is not taken quickly, an employee should contact an OSHA area office or state office via a written complaint. If the OSHA or state office determines that there are reasonable grounds for believing that a violation or danger exists, the office will conduct an inspection. An OSHA compliance officer may have a workers’ representative conduct the inspection with them, as it is their right. The representative is chosen by a union representative, if there is one, or by the employees. At no time may the workers’ representative be chosen by the employer. The inspector may conduct a comprehensive inspection of the entire workplace or a partial inspection limited to certain areas or aspects of the operation. At the end of the inspection, the OSHA inspector will meet with the employer and the employee representatives to discuss the abatement of any hazards that may have been found. These need to be corrected or serious penalties and legal liabilities may arise.

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Construction site injuries vary greatly based on the type of work being performed and the circumstances surrounding the environment and the individual affected. Although many construction injuries are minor, serious consequences must not be overlooked. Traumatic injuries and even death may result form the negligence of coworkers, the failure to follow established safety procedures, or defective equipment.

The following is a lengthy list of the possible injuries construction workers face following construction site accidents:

· Head injury: Unfortunately, hard hats are not barriers to all forms of head injuries that can happen at a construction site. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), closed head injury, concussion and coma may result from a variety of hazardous situations at a work site. These conditions can lead to long-term complications and death.

· Closed head injury: This occurs when the head sustains a blunt force by striking against an object. Most head injuries are closed head injuries. A concussion is a type of closed head injury that is very common amongst construction workers.

· Concussion: A concussion is caused by a blow to the head that results in a temporary loss of awareness. When a concussion occurs, it is due to cerebrospinal fluid being unable to cushion the brain from the skull during impact. Some concussions have serious long-term effects, and the risk for long-term effects increases in individuals who have suffered from multiple concussions.

· Spinal cord injuries: The spinal cord carries sensory signals and motor control to most of the skeletal muscles in the body, and almost every voluntary muscle in the body below the head relies on the spinal cord for control. An injury to the spinal cord usually has severe repercussions on the rest of the body. A spinal cord injury can be a life-altering event for the injured and his/her family as round-the-clock care may be necessary after a spinal cord injury.

· Paralysis: Paralysis occurs when all muscle function is lost for one or more muscle groups. This can be caused by a spinal cord injury, and depending on the type of injury, paralysis may affect just a small part of the body or the entire body. Any form of paralysis will be disruptive to one’s life. Routines that were once simple will be incredibly difficult, and your whole quality of life will change if you are paralyzed in a construction accident.

· Severe cuts: With a variety of tools being used in a busy environment, it is not surprising that serious cuts are common amongst construction workers. Open gashes can become infected and lead to more serious consequences.

· Burns: Burn injuries are a very real risk at construction sites because of huge amounts of heated water, steam, chemicals and electricity at construction sites. Burns can cause serious long-term consequences, and burn injuries are both slow to heal and extremely painful, with the pain lasting throughout the healing process and for years to follow. Burn survivors often require extensive medical care, and families of burn victims must often do battle with a sudden unexpected injury that has forever changed their lives.

· Loss of limb: Suffering a loss of limb is a tragedy for anyone, but for construction workers who rely on their limbs for their livelihood, a loss of limb is particularly devastating.

· Amputations: Amputations are sometimes necessary following an accident to preserve life. As a surgical measure, amputation controls pain or a disease process and is a preventative measure.

· Dislocations: Dislocations are a risk inherent in many forms of physical work such as construction and often cause damage to ligaments. Dislocations may require physical manipulation to return the bones to their proper position. Healing from a dislocation can cause construction workers to miss a great deal of work.

· Broken bones: Broken bones are not only painful but take a long time to heal and require time off from work.

· Blindness: Construction accidents can result in vision loss or complete blindness. Obviously, the repercussions of losing one’s sight are huge and require you to leave work indefinitely in most cases.

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If you think that because the residential real estate economy has gone bust that there is no way to make money in this market right now, think again. There are thousands of upscale neighborhoods across the United States in which new construction of homes was halted because of the collapse of the real estate market. Most of the homes that were under construction had been purchased by real estate investors who hoped to flip the home upon completion to a new buyer and make a sizable profit.

When it became apparent that the majority of people who were commissioning new construction homes to be built were investors and there were not a lot of buyers, the entire market crashed. Investors lost money and many developers went out of business. They had a lot more homes in their new subdivision for sale than there were buyers. On top of that, they owed banks money for financing the subdivision. Pretty soon, banks took over these areas, which are located throughout the United States and particularly in Florida, California and Nevada. These areas were booming in the 1990s and then crashed.

There are many homes in these upscale neighborhoods that are in the process of construction. When the builder went bankrupt, the construction was halted. Banks took over but have no interest in getting these properties constructed. They are simply looking to get their money back.

If you know about new construction or are in the trades, you can buy one of these partially constructed homes for a fraction of their cost and finish the construction yourself. You have to be careful, though, that you understand what you are getting into.

You will have to know about building codes and make sure that the home is completed in accordance with the codes. In addition, you should also be aware that some municipalities have ordinances that require that construction be completed within a specified amount of time. If the house has not met that specification, there may be fines associated with the property. A title search will allow you to discover if there are any fines that have been levied against the property from the municipality for non completion of construction.

In addition to doing as much of the work on your own, you can also find labor relatively inexpensively throughout the United States. The trades were hit hard during this recession and there are many people who are experienced in all aspects of home building that are out of work. Many small trade companies have even gone out of business. You can find cheap labor to help you finish the construction of your house.

Buying new construction is usually a way to make money in real estate during any type of market. But even in this recession, you can buy partially constructed homes, finish them and then get ready to sell. Although you may make a small profit selling the home after construction is completed, you can make an even larger profit if you look for the long term investment and wait until the market turns around.

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If you enjoy working around the home and doing various DIY projects, then maybe you’re ready for the Holy Grail of DIY – building your own home as an owner-builder. By eliminating the costs of a general contractor’s overhead, you will save tens of thousands of dollars on your next home. And it’s not as labor intensive as you might think.

Being an owner builder simply means you are overseeing the construction of your home without hiring a licensed builder. By eliminating the builder, you eliminate the builder’s profit, which translates to tens of thousands of dollars you get to keep for yourself.

For many DIY lovers, being an owner builder is a chance to put their skills to good use. When you act as your own general contractor, you can do as much of the work as you wish. There are many examples of owner builders who do the majority of the labor themselves, from framing all the way through to landscaping.

However, many owner builders contract out the bulk of the labor and focus on doing only the projects that they are comfortable with, such as hanging drywall or painting. Every bit of labor that you do yourself becomes extra sweat equity that you build into your home.

Once the house is built, it’s worth whatever a potential buyer is willing to pay for it. Therefore, cutting the costs of construction by being an owner-builder means your new home will be worth much more than you spend to build it.

But, don’t worry if you feel you’re not ready (or willing) to take on an entire construction project on your own. Being an owner builder is more about project management than it is about actual physical labor. In fact, plenty of owner builders never lift a hammer.

Even without doing any of the labor yourself, there is plenty of sweat equity to be made, because you will cut out the costs of the builder. Indeed, a lot of people don’t realize that their builder never actually does any labor himself. Instead, he typically manages the sub-contractors who do all the actual physical construction.

So, if you feel you have the management skills to oversee the project, then being an owner builder can still be very profitable.

Beyond having to understand the planning and project management involved in construction, a successful owner builder also understands the financing that is needed.

It’s fair to claim that most people who build a home do not have the cash on hand to complete the project without financing some (or all) of the construction. The trick is understanding how being an owner builder affects your chances for getting approved for a construction loan.

With the current belt-tightening by the mortgage industry, construction loans are getting harder to find, even if you are willing to hire and pay a fully licensed general contractor. As you might imagine, securing financing for a construction loan that will allow you to be an owner builder is even tougher. The good news, though, is that there are programs still available – you just need to understand some of the key points about the financing that may affect your ability to build your dream home.

First, it’s important to realize that the costs of the financing will typically be slightly higher than the costs of a regular construction loan. Step back and look at the big picture. If you feel you would be a successful owner builder, is it worth it to pay slightly more for the financing for the opportunity to save tens of thousands of dollars on your construction costs?

Owner builder construction loans are a specialty product that represent more work and more risk to the lender. On the other hand, they also represent a greater opportunity for you, the borrower, to save a ton of money. It should be a fair trade all around.

The second important thing to realize is that owner builder loans will typically have stricter requirements than a simple purchase or refinance loan. These requirements may mean you have to qualify based on stricter credit score guidelines or tougher debt-to-income ratios.

For example, if a borrower’s credit score is below 700, it is pretty common to require that borrower have a larger spread between the total construction line of credit and the appraised value of the future home. Sometimes, for the borrower with the lower credit score, this might require a down payment on the construction loan. But, that doesn’t mean the deal can’t be done. It’s just important to understand the financing will be different than the simple purchase loans that you may be accustomed to.

The third important point to recognize is that owner builder construction loans will always be designed to protect you and ensure there is enough money available in your construction loan (i.e., line of credit) to complete the project. Nobody, meaning neither the bank nor you, wants an unfinished home. So, it is pretty common for owner builder loans to require that you qualify for extra amounts of money in your construction line of credit on top of your land and budget numbers.

For instance, you may have a small pot of money wrapped into your loan as a contingency fund in case you slightly under budgeted. It’s a protective feature to make sure you don’t run out of money during construction and end up with a home without a roof. However, your permanent loan should only include the money that you actually use during construction. So, any extra funds or any extra budget money that you don’t spend during construction won’t count against you.

So, if you are a fan of DIY projects, and you think you have the management skills to oversee the project, then perhaps being an owner builder will be a good option for you. The large amounts of savings can make it a very profitable experience. Just make sure you understand the planning and the financing involved.

Construction loan mortgages can turn a vacant piece of land – whether in a not-as-yet developed suburban tract, or the wilds of a favourite rural escape – into a person’s dream home, chalet or vacation retreat. Because these loans are the vehicles that turn a person’s vision of where they would like to live, or where they would like to vacation or retire, they are sometimes referred to as “dream loans’. And everybody has to have a dream.

Construction loan mortgages are typically designed to start as an interest-only loan under which funds are released to the homebuilder in stages as construction progresses. So much is released to purchase the property, so much when the foundation is built, when the structure of the home is enclosed etc. Ultimately, when construction is completed and an occupancy permit is issued, the interest-only construction loan is then rolled into a home mortgage with the standard amortization terms and payment structures etc. of a normal home mortgage.

During the construction phase of building such a “dream home”, the construction loan that funds the project will typically be an interest-only loan with variable rate interest. After all, in most instances the person who financing construction of his or her dream will most often be living off property in a second home, or otherwise renting or paying for accommodation. Upon completion, the construction loan is paid off, and a regular mortgage is drawn up on the property. The advantage of a construction loan mortgage is that the same lender can often be found to complete the financing of the homeowner/builder’s project: funding short-term construction coasts, and funding the long term mortgage on the property.

Most lenders will offer one or many varieties of such loan/mortgages. Working with a lender that will finance both ends of the transaction cuts down the application and its incidental costs and allows the homeowner/builder to negotiate favourable mortgage terms for the long haul.

A mortgage broker with experience in handling construction loan mortgages can guide the person building his or her dream home with the advice and expertise that will guide a first time builder through the process. Lenders will not typically finance all of the costs for the construction project – although, generally, a mortgage broker can help arrange financing for up to 95% of the project.

An experienced mortgage broker will be able to provide expertise and guidance with respect to (i) acquisition of the land and arranging servicing of the building lot, (ii) construction financing and planning when and in what amounts to draw down funds from the construction loan, as well as (iii) assistanc with converting the construction loan into a regularized mortgage when construction is complete and your dream home is ready for occupancy.

Comparison shop when looking for the best terms for your construction loan mortgage. Enlist the help of a mortgage broker who will be able to connect you to a host of different lenders. Compare their terms. Note that it could be worthwhile to pay a slightly higher interest rate during the construction phase, as this will be a relatively short-term cost, if you can get better mortgage terms later from the same lender, versus going to other lenders. Shop around, work with a broker, and do not be afraid to ask the question that will help you turn your dreams into your reality.

If you are considering a career in construction you may want to think twice construction jobs are in very short supply. The unemployment for construction related jobs is very high and many of this jobs have gone down in value, because many of these jobs were and are going to undocumented workers. If you still want to pursue a career in the construction industry, you should consider formal training at a trade school and preferably in a trade that requires substantial time to learn.

Some skills are in demand regardless of the state of the economy for example, air condition, heating and plumbing are not dependant on new construction. These are construction jobs, but they are also service jobs. A couple of years of training in air conditioning and heating is often enough to start a new job with an air conditioning and heating company. The time spent in these programs also means, that you take a break from a weak economy and when you are done will come back ready to work in a better economic climate. Two year programs are not necessary, but programs that necessarily require two years of training are likely to pay off in the long run. The harder it is to enter a particular trade or profession, the less likely the demand for these positions will be met. Associations and unions after make it more difficult for new people to enter their particular field and set up high standards that will in fact improve the quality of the services, but also increase the cost of entry and the cost to consumers. This in turn benefits those who can stick it out and those that are in the profession.

If you have the skill and experience, then a service oriented job would be an alternative to finding jobs in new construction. There are many opportunities to become self employed as a handyman or for small home improvement projects. Many states allow contracting for repairs for projects that can be done in 2 days or less without any type of a construction license.

Home improvement and home renovation as well as home repairs are not depending on new construction. Major expenses such as additions are more likely to be affected by a weak economy, but many home improvement projects as well as home repair projects are not affected much. If home owner has windows needing to be replaced, chances are they will replace them.

A weak economy and poor lending practices have led to a significant increase in foreclosures. As result homes are often abandoned and thieves often gut these homes out of copper wiring and plumbing, doing significant damage in the process. Some are vandalized while vacant and some are occupied and destroyed by teens and young adults using them as party houses. Banks, lenders, and real estate investors are also likely to do home renovations prior to selling a house, or renting a house. This increased number of foreclosures often means opportunities for skilled construction workers. These are not new construction jobs, but they still require the same skill and know how to renovate these homes and in fact present a lot of opportunity in home improvement and repair for skilled construction workers.

Construction jobs are available, but are small in number and only a few can and have obtained these jobs, but most are struggling to keep their jobs, but nontraditional construction jobs in service oriented business are presenting opportunities for those with skills.