Here’s the Skinny on Construction Site Injuries

Here’s the Skinny on Construction Site Injuries

The construction industry is a primary employer of workers all over Colorado. Unfortunately, workplace safety numbers have not improved in recent years. This means that a growing number of workers have been injured or killed on the job, and many more are at risk for future injury. Don’t just take our word for it, though. The facts speak for themselves. Here’s the skinny on what’s going on with construction site injuries:

1 in 5 American Workplace Fatalities Occur Within the Construction Industry

The construction industry is not for the faint of heart. The job takes hard work and dedication – and it even costs some people their lives. While organizations like OSHA were designed to improve workplace safety, there are still workplace tragedies every year. Of all the deaths that occur on the job in the United States, 20 percent (1 in 5) of them occur in the construction industry.

Falls are the Leading Cause of Serious Injuries in Construction

Although the construction industry involves the use of heavy machinery and dangerous equipment, these are not the primary sources of construction site injuries and death. Falls account for serious and even fatal accidents in the world of construction more than any other factor. Statistics from 2013 reveal that of the 796 construction-related deaths in America, 294 were related to falls. This is more than 33 percent of all construction-related deaths. Breaking it down further, 10 percent of deaths were attributed to being struck by an object, followed next by electrocution (8.9 percent), and finally, being caught between two objects (2.6 percent). OSHA calls these four causes of death the “Construction Fatal Four.”

Colorado Has a High Construction Injury and Fatality Rate

While other industries saw an overall drop in workplace injuries and fatalities, the private construction industry in Colorado has seen a surge in workplace deaths. There was a 62 percent increase in private construction-related deaths between 2014 and 2015. As the industry continues to grow and expand throughout the state, we expect to see a continued rise in overall workplace injuries – especially if safety measures fail to keep pace with the growth trend. In recent years, the team at Mintz Law Firm has worked on many different cases related to construction injuries in Colorado and will continue to fight for justice for the victims of on-the-job accidents.

Have you or someone you love been involved in a construction workplace accident? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at Mintz Law Firm today. Give us a call for a free case evaluation right away.