The construction industry provides its practitioners with a number of unique benefits (chief of which may be the freedom from the confines of a traditional office). This perk alone no doubt attracts a number of people to this particular line of work. Yet for all of the benefits that construction work offers, it also comes with a certain number of risks.
Indeed, the construction industry typically ranks among the most dangerous service sectors (with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reporting over 20% of the workplace fatalities occurring in 2019 as coming from that industry alone). Some might think that the work presents inherent risks that are seemingly unavoidable. Yet that may not be the case.
“The Fatal Four”
According to the American Society of Safety Professionals, over 60% of all fatalities reported by the construction industry are due to one of the following four causes:
- Falls from heights
- Being struck by falling objects
- Electrocutions
- Crush injuries (being caught in or in-between heavy equipment or work surfaces
With data related to these fatalities so readily available, many might think that employers in the construction industry would be well-prepared to protect their employees from them.
Citations for common construction site hazards
When detailing the most common citations issued to contractors, OSHA regulators list several infractions related directly to the aforementioned “Fatal Four.” This implies either a lack of understanding on the part of these employers of the dangers that their employees face, or (even worse) an indifference towards them. In either case, failing to provide adequate protection from workplace hazards open up contractors to liability claims if and when their workers suffer injuries and need compensation to adequately handle their accident-related expenses.