An Overview of Construction Accidents from Work Injury Attorneys
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on October 13, 2016
With more than 650,000 construction employers and 6 million employees, this large segment of the population is responsible for contributing nearly $1 trillion to the Gross Domestic Product each year, according to the Association of General Contractors of America. This productivity generates significant economic growth. Without the construction industry, the U.S. economy would suffer and building projects would fail. Without a doubt, construction workers are extremely valuable to our nation. And their jobs can put them at a higher risk of encountering construction accidents. In 2014, TIME Magazine listed construction laborers as the 12th most dangerous job in the country. While the term “construction laborer” may be vague, four other specific job titles associated with construction made the “most dangerous” list as well.
Construction workers often operate in risky conditions on a daily basis. Working with heavy machinery, working at dangerous heights, operating unstable equipment – and all of these factors may come into play to affect worker safety. Though there are many safety practices in place to make work environments less dangerous, in 2014 alone, a reported 4,821 workers were killed on the job (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). This includes technicians, construction, roofers and all other laborers. And it equates to over 90 deaths per week or more than 13 every day.
While many people may not realize the life-threatening risks that some people face on the job, as work injury attorneys we are very aware. Even in highly regulated environments with many safety practices in place, some jobs put people at high risk of injury. To get a better understanding of construction accidents, follow along for 10 surprising statistics from the work injury attorneys at Cooper & Friedman PLLC.
9 Surprising Statistics About Construction Accidents From Work Injury Attorneys
- One in 10 Construction workers are injured every year. (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
- During a 45-year career in construction, an individual has a 1 in 200 chance of dying while on the job. (Safety + Health Magazine).
- Falls make up a large portion of accidents in construction. Thirty-nine percent of construction workers who experience a fall accident on the job, fall from roofs. And one third of construction workers who fall on the job fall from scaffolds. Twenty-seven percent of construction falls happen from 10 feet or less. And 12 percent of construction falls occur from heights over 25 feet. (The Center for Construction Research and Training).
- Construction accidents occur for a number of reasons. OSHA has created the “Fatal Four” list which includes falls, electrocutions, struck by an object and caught-in/ between another object. These four types of accidents represent 57.6 percent of construction worker deaths in 2014. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor and OSHA)
- Sixty percent of construction accident injuries occur within the employee’s first year on the job. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- Road construction fatalities have declined by 36 percent since 2005. (Federal Highway Administration).
- Female construction workers incurred a 13 percent increase in fatal work injuries in 2014 from 2013. This percent only represents 8 percent of all fatal occupational injuries in 2014. (Bureau of Labor).
- Employees working in transportation and material moving accounted for the largest group of fatal occupational injuries (a total of 28 percent).
- The state of Texas has the largest amount of construction workers and also the highest number of construction accident fatalities. (US National Library of Medicine).
Work injury statistics are alarming, perhaps especially for those with loved ones in the construction field. Fortunately, government agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are working to make construction jobs, and every job, as safe as possible.
And in the event of a work injury, law firms like Cooper and Friedman PLLC work hard to defend the rights of injured workers. If you or a loved one is ever the victim of a work accident, getting experienced legal help can be extremely important. Depending on your specific circumstances, you may be entitled to lost wages, medical fees, and other types of compensation due to a work accident.
If you need a work injury attorney serving Kentucky and Southern Indiana, contact Cooper and Friedman PLLC. Cooper and Friedman has an A+ BBB rating and over 45 combined years of injury law experience. Call our office today at 502-459-7555 for a free work injury case consultation.