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Construction Accident Statistics

On Behalf of | Jan 3, 2019 | Construction Law, Firm News

Construction workers should undergo safety training, be provided with safety gear, and work with functioning equipment to reduce the risk of serious injuries on construction sites. Unfortunately, these precautions are not taken on every job site, increasing the risk of construction accidents that cause serious injuries or death.

Construction accident statistics show how these accidents occurred, along with the number of injuries and fatalities attributed to construction site accidents each year. If you were injured on a construction site, contact the attorneys at Bowles & Verna.

Construction Site Accident Fatalities

In 2016, 5,190 workers were killed on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Of those workers, 991 were construction workers. In all, just shy of one in five workplace fatalities in 2016 took place at construction sites.

Construction site accident fatality statistics are also collected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has identified the “fatal four” types of accidents that are responsible for the majority of construction worker deaths.

In 2016, more than half (63.7 percent) of construction worker fatalities in the United States fell into one of the following four categories:

  • Falls: Of the 991 total construction accident fatalities in 2016, 384 (38.7 percent) were the result of falls. Falls are by far the most common cause of construction accident fatalities.
  • Struck by an Object: Slightly less than 9.5 percent of construction accident deaths in 2016 occurred after a worker was struck by an object. This is the second most common cause of construction site fatalities.
  • Electrocution: More than 8 percent of construction accident deaths in 2016 were electrocutions. Of the 991 total fatalities that year, electrocution injuries resulted in 82 deaths.
  • Caught In-Between: Workers killed when compressed, caught in equipment, struck, crushed, or caught in a collapsing structure accounted for 72 out of 991 construction deaths in 2016 (7.3 percent).

Construction Site Non-fatal Accident Statistics

While there are a substantial number of fatal injuries at U.S. construction sites every year, there are more non-fatal injuries. According to BLS, there are roughly 150,000 construction site accident injuries each year.

Although falls make up the majority of these accidents, contact with equipment is also a significant cause of injury.

Construction Site Accident Safety Standard Violations

OSHA also tracks the safety standards that are most frequently cited. Between October 2016 and September 2017, some of the most frequently cited standards included fall protection, scaffolding, ladders, machinery and machine guarding, and hazard communication.

Contact a Construction Accident Lawyer

Construction injuries are far from uncommon, but there is something you can do if you have been injured at a worksite: contact our team of construction law attorneys.

Our team of lawyers understand all aspects of construction law and can handle a wide range of matters. Call us today at (925) 935-3300 or contact us online today to get started.