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How Dangerous Is the Construction Industry?

 Posted on November 23, 2022 in Construction Accidents

Chicago construction site accidentDespite advances in training, technology, and safety equipment, the construction industry consistently has one of the highest rates of worker fatalities and death. More than 20 percent of all worker deaths occur in the construction industry, yet construction workers make up only six percent of the labor force in this country. Approximately 1,000 construction workers are killed on the job each year. Another 175,000 workers suffer job-related injuries. Tragically, many of these construction accidents could be prevented.

The Fatal Four

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about 20 percent of all worker fatalities are the result of the fatal four – falls, being struck by an object, electrocution, and being caught in or between objects.

Falls are the leading cause of construction worker deaths, responsible for more than 35 percent of all fatalities. Approximately 15 percent of fatalities are due to struck-by accidents. Electrocutions cause 7 percent of worker deaths and deaths caused by workers caught in or between incidents are at about 6 percent.

Preventable Accidents

If the available safety equipment and training were used on a consistent basis on all construction job sites, many of these accidents would not occur. The top 10 violation citations issued to construction companies include failure to provide workers with proper restraint systems and effective lockout/tagout procedures, and failure to provide and maintain proper safety equipment. The most common violations include:

  • Control of hazardous energy
  • Electrical systems/designs
  • Electrical wiring methods
  • Fall protection
  • Hazard communication
  • Ladders
  • Machinery and machine guarding
  • Powered industrial trucks
  • Scaffolding

Safety Failure Often Equals Negligence

If a construction worker is injured because of negligence by the construction company, that worker may be entitled to financial compensation for their losses. If the worker dies, their family may be able to pursue legal action. This compensation goes beyond workers’ compensation benefits, which often have limited coverage for the worker and/or family’s losses.

There can also be multiple liable parties when a construction worker is injured or killed. This is where a seasoned personal injury attorney can help. The attorney can investigate the accident to determine what caused the accident and who all the liable parties are. The attorney will also be the injured worker or the family’s advocate, protecting them against the aggressive and manipulative tactics of construction companies, insurance companies, and attorneys representing those entities.  

Call a Cook County Personal Injury Lawyer for Legal Help

An experienced Chicago construction accident attorney can help level the legal playing field by protecting the rights of an injured worker and their family. To learn what legal recourse you may have if you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a construction accident, call Adler Law Offices, LTD at 312-236-2700 to schedule a free consultation.

 

Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.htm

https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag23.htm

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