Anyone, no matter their occupation, can suffer an injury on the job. Of course, there are some jobs that simply carry more risk of physical injury an death than others – with construction being an area of particular concern. In fact, as recently as 2018, just over 20% of all reported worker deaths in the country during the calendar year occurred in the construction field – with significantly more injuries included as well.
In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration tracks what it calls the “Fatal Four” in construction worker deaths. Those major areas of concern include fatal falls, being struck by an object, getting caught in or between, and electrocutions. By far the most common of the four are fatal falls, which account for just about 34%, followed by object strikes at just over 11%, electrocutions at under 9%, and caught in or between at slightly over 8%.
There are, of course, many more cases where workers avoid a fatal outcome but do suffer significant, and often catastrophic, injuries. Construction sites have many risks and dangers that require constant vigilance and significant effort on the part of those in charge to ensure the safest possible work space. Following OSHA regulations is a good baseline approach, but more can often be done to keep workers healthy and limit the danger of injury as much as possible.
When significant injuries or death do unfortunately occur, those suffering will often face a difficult path. Injuries can mean months away from work during recovery while medical bills pile up and the loss of wages can cause additional financial pain for a family. In such situations, it may be possible to seek compensation if injuries were caused by negligence. A successful lawsuit can help those injured and their families obtain much needed funds to help with recovery and chart a new path forward.