Construction workers are the backbone of American industry. The requires them to perform any number of tasks in different conditions.
In addition, this also exposes them to all kinds of possible injuries. In fact, construction workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
There are many things that could go wrong and result in an injury. Some construction injury statistics will shock you. Keep reading to learn more about the risks of the work yard.
Hidden Dangers of The Job Site
No one ever said that working construction was easy. In fact, construction workers often have an aura of hardiness and knowhow.
The job site is full of potential dangers. Fortunately, there is a whole industry dedicated to minimizing the risk and improve worker safety.
However, even veteran laborers are can make mistakes, and accidents can happen.
7 Seven Construction Injury Statistics You Should Know
The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) and other organizations keep detailed statistics of worker injuries.
Every construction fatality and accident should be reported along with all the details of the incident. It is through these statistics that researchers determine how to maximize safety.
1. 1 in 5 Worker Deaths Occur In Constructions
According to OSHA statistics, over 5,200 workers died on the job in the United States in 2018. Specifically, 1008 of them were construction workers. That means that about 20% of all worker fatalities occurred at the construction yard.
This makes it one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
2. The “Fatal Four”
No two construction sites are exactly the same but there are certain dangers that have come to be expected. These are constantly required to work under different conditions7 using a variety of tools.
After reviewing data on construction injuries and construction worker deaths, it became clear that certain types of trauma were more common.
The “Fatal Four” refers to frequently seen workplace injuries that lead to death.
Falls
Construction workers constantly have to get to high areas when working in or around a building. A fall can lead to brain injury or spinal cord damage.
Even if they are working in a smaller house and not a skyscraper, there is a risk of suffering a fatal fall.
In fact, falls hazards represent the biggest threat. OSHA insists that employers instruct their workers fall safety with added diligence.
Struck By Object
A struck-by injury occurs when an object forcibly comes into contact with a part of the body. If it happens with enough force, a bodily injury may occur.
This can lead to pain, disability, and even death.
Electric Shocks
Modern buildings have extensive electric wiring to power everything that allows for our modern lifestyle. Construction workers will always be exposed to certain electrical dangers when working on houses or other buildings.
Electrocutions may often lead to a construction worker’s death. In fact, they account for 8.6% of all fatalities.
“Caught In/Between”
Construction workers are at a high risk of suffering a ‘caught-in/between’ injury. As the name suggests, this happens when a part of the body is stuck in between something.
There are several ways this can happen and the relevant response will vary.
A worker getting their arm stuck in machinery is a clear example of this type of injury. However, injuries from getting stuck under a collapsed wall would also fall under this category.
3. 1 in 10 Construction Worker Injured Every Year
Construction yards can be tough places. It’s where hard work gets done using big machinery.
It seems that even if you’re careful, there is always a certain risk. In fact, about 10% of all construction workers will suffer some kind of injury after working for one year.
This highlights the importance of wearing protective gear and having a plan to enact in case of injury.
4. Most Commonly Reported OSHA Violations
Nobody likes to be told how to do their jobs but safety regulations are in place to protect you and those around you. Some people find the regulations tedious but failure to comply can lead to another construction death
Many of the regulations that are ignored have to do with fall safety. Training for fall prevention, scaffolding, and ladder safety is often found to be lacking.
Other common violations include lack of face/eye protection, respiratory protection, communication, and machine safety.
5. Fall Safety
Over 1/3 of worker deaths occurred from falls. Clearly, this is the biggest risk to the life and well being of construction workers currently.
You don’t need to be hundreds of feet in the air to be at risk of a fall. 38% of falls resulting in death resulted from a drop of 15 feet or less.
Furthermore, more than half of the falls affected small business workers rather than those working for large companies.
6. Repetitive Injuries
Repetitive stress injury (RSI) affects nearly 2 million workers every year. It can affect a number of different articulations depending on the type of work in question.
Construction workers are often required to perform repetitive tasks, putting them at increased risk for injury and disability.
Proper training, task rotation, and sufficient breaks can help slow the onset of RSI.
7. Unreported Injuries
Of course, we can only speak to statistics regarding injuries that were actually reported. However, it is believed that many, if not most, construction site injuries go unreported.
A portion of these cases is likely due to concern about legal consequences or pressure from employers.
If you are or a coworker is injured on the job, seek medical help as appropriate. The personal injury lawyers at Slater & Zurz can help get you compensation in these cases.
Recovering From an Accident
Not only does America need construction workers, but our essential laborers also need to eat and feed their families. An injury can keep you sidelined or even permanently disabled.
Construction injury statistics show that we have a long way to go to make our job sites safe.
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