The construction industry is vital for building and maintaining where people live and work, but it is also one of the most hazardous professions, ranking fourth on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s list of dangerous jobs, according to For Construction Pros. Slips, trips, and falls are the leading risks, with construction accounting for 46.2% of all fatal incidents of this kind in 2021. Falls, in particular, are a growing concern, often causing traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Despite this, a survey revealed that most American helmet buyers lack awareness of rotational motion, a major contributor to TBIs.
Rotational motion is a common cause for concussions and more severe brain injuries in oblique hits to the head. In most instances when you fall and hit your head or when a falling object glances the head, the impact occurs at an angle. For example, you trip over stray equipment on a jobsite and hit your head: The impact to your head would probably occur at an angle. This angled impact can expose your head to rotational motion, which can lead to shearing of the brain’s axons, the cable transmitters of neurons, and can cause TBIs. TBIs can lead to severe injuries, time away from work, and even fatalities. Read more
