Few professions are more dangerous than construction, so it is no surprise that Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has four deadly categories that commonly result in severe injury or death. Injuries in these categories account for almost 64% of construction worker deaths:
- Falls (33% of all deaths): Among other scenarios, these falls include those off of ladders, roofs, scaffolding, through a floor opening, or down a flight of stairs.
- Struck-by-object (11%): On a construction site, dangerous object may fall, fly, swing or roll before hitting the victim.
- Electrocutions (8-9%): Deadly amounts of electricity can cause severe burns, shock, arc flash or arc blast, explosions, or fire. Injuries resulting from the current Currents of electricity often produce extreme heat and high-temperature burns severely damage skin or other body parts.
- Caught-in and/or caught-between (5-6%): This occurs when workers get stuck between, squeezed, caught, or crushed between two objects.
Prevention saves lives
Employers and site managers can make worksites significantly safer if they focus on making these four categories safer, but they should still account for any foreseeable dangers. This includes providing all necessary safety equipment and the proper equipment for the job. Employers and site managers should also ensure that everyone working on the site are properly trained to avoid hazards and further identify potential dangers before they result in injury.
If you or a loved one have been injured on a job site, you can received a free consultation with an attorney at Goldstein, Ballen, O’Rourke & Wildstein, P.C. by calling us at 973-473-1113 .