Protecting Workers from Construction Hazards
Construction site accidents affect thousands of American workers annually.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 5,000 workers were killed on the job in 2016. That amounts to 99 worker deaths per week, or 14 each day.
Of those fatalities, one in five occurred in construction. The most common causes, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA):
- Falls (39 percent of construction deaths)
- Struck by Object (9 percent)
- Electrocutions (8 percent)
- Caught or Crushed by Material/Equipment (7 percent)
OSHA, which tracks and enforces worker safety, refers to these as the “Fatal Four.”
Now, there are federal policies and standards in place to protect workers from these types of accidents. But too often, we hear of violations. The number one cited violation in 2017, according to OSHA? Not having adequate fall protection on the construction site.
The number one violation in 2016? Fall protection.
Number one in 2015? Fall protection.
2014? You guessed it.
Notice a pattern?
Simply stated, when companies ignore safety rules, people get hurt and people die.