Accounting for 19.9% of US work deaths in 2016, this confirms the importance of all companies in this industry in developing a strong safety culture for construction workers. In 2016, the number of workers in the US construction industry rose to 10.3 million, constantly rising since 2012, when this number had dropped to 8.9 million. As these figures continue to rise, the number of deaths occurring on-site has also grown from 849 to 985.Â
The large % of these deaths are a result of one of the Fatal Four, which in many cases, could have been prevented. They include being struck by, or caught in between an object, also electrocution and most commonly, falling from heights. The main cause of these falls are a lack of unprotected edges which can be easily provided, also, the absence of hard hats, which should always be worn on-site.
These unprotected platforms are listed as the OSHA standards which are most commonly violated, with something as easy as a warning sign used for a certain hazard, perhaps chemical being another.
Certain OSHA regulations and standards which must be kept to and could prevent future accidents or fatal injury include providing workers with the relevant OSHA training for their job, making sure that any injuries and illnesses are recorded and stored.
Penalties in 2016, have also grown and a fine of over $12000 could now be given if serious violations are recorded once, compared to $7000 the year before, with repetitive or willful violations sometimes reaching over $129,000. This is an overall rise of 78% since 1990, when these figures were last adjusted.
This infographic contains important, constantly growing figures from 2016, investigating:
- The % of workplace deaths of construction workers, which occur in this industry.
- The number of deaths, which were a result of the Fatal Four.
- How these deaths could have been prevented with improved health and safety regulations.
Download this infographic to learn more.