Examining statistics on construction accidents

Jan 18 2017

In 2015, there were more than 900 deadly construction accidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, even people who are fortunate enough to survive a construction accident may face an uphill battle and a long road to recovery. On job sites in Denver, and all throughout Colorado, construction accident injuries may result in lifelong disabilities, costly medical bills, lost wages and a host of other hardships.

Because of the serious and sometimes fatal nature of construction accidents, it is pivotal for workers and employers to understand how these incidents can upend lives focus on ways to prevent them. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that there are four primary causes of fatal construction accidents, which include being struck by objects, electrocuted, becoming caught-in/between and falling. If these four hazards were completely eliminated from the construction industry, OSHA estimates that 545 fewer worker fatalities would take place per year.

In the private sector, there were more than 4,300 worker deaths over the course of 2014 across all industries. However, 20.5 percent of these fatalities occurred in the construction industry, which highlights how prevalent these accidents truly are. Each day that construction workers perform their job responsibilities, a variety of hazards are present. Some dangers that may appear include falling debris, falling off of a ladder, injuries sustained due to malfunctioning equipment or machinery and a host of other problems.

For those who have lost a family member or suffered an injury in a construction accident, examining every option and holding responsible those who cause these tragedies is crucial.