Is there a way to stop most of the deadly workplace accidents that happen every year in the construction industry in the United States? Some safety experts think there is, and the statistics back them up. They say that all you need to do is figure out a way to eliminate the “fatal four.”
Naturally, that’s far easier said than done. There are a lot of potential factors that contribute to these accidents, and no two cases are exactly alike. There are also some inherent dangers in the construction industry that may prove difficult or even impossible to avoid.
Even so, the statistics paint a fairly clear picture. They say that a full 57% of fatal accidents for construction workers come from just four different types of accidents: Falls, workers getting caught between two objects, electrocutions and workers getting hit by objects.
Falls often occur when workers are on ladders or scaffold systems. Workers who get caught between objects are often using vehicles or heavy machinery. Electrocutions may be the result of miscommunication or workers neglecting to turn the power off in order to get the job done more quickly. Workers getting struck by objects may have been working below other crews when unsecured tools or materials fell down to a lower level. All cases are different, but these examples help illustrate the risks that workers face every day.
Have you lost a loved one on the job or have you suffered serious injuries in a workplace accident? If so, make sure you know what rights you may have to compensation.
