Construction Accident Statistics
Working in construction can be dangerous, especially if you’re just starting out. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that approximately 60 percent of all construction accidents occur during the workers first year on the job. It’s numbers like this that put the hazard of construction work into perspective, and underlies the importance of seeking legal aid from Tawwater Law Firm following a work injury.
The team at our Oklahoma, OK law firm would like to look at some other important numbers that put construction accidents into perspective. We think these numbers tell a compelling story about the need for safety at all workplaces and why seeking legal help after a construction accident is so important.
The Number of People Working in Construction
According to numbers from the BLS, there are approximately 7,286,000 people working in construction in the United States at the moment. In 2017, the majority of these construction workers were construction laborers or carpenters.
Construction workers are at great risk of experiencing an injury or accident while on the job simply given the nature of their occupation.
National Work Injury Statistics
According to 2016 numbers, there were a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries in the United States, marking a trend in the increase of fatalities on the job over the last three years. Transportation incidents were the most common cause of these fatal injuries, accounting for 40 percent of all fatal incidents.
Focusing on construction, the BLS recorded 991 construction worker fatalities in 2016, an increase from 937 fatalities in construction in 215. Of these 2016 construction fatalities, 631 involves specialty trade contractors, 182 were related to building construction, and 159 were related to heavy and civil engineering construction.
Oklahoma Work Injury Statistics
The BLS recorded 92 work injury fatalities in the year 2016, a very slight increase from 91 work fatalities in 2015.
Common Causes of Construction Fatalities
The most common causes of construction worker deaths have been called “the fatal four” by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). More than 64 percent of fatalities in construction were related to these four types of incidents:
- Falls - 384 fatalities (38.7 percent)
- Struck by Object - 93 fatalities (9.4 percent)
- Electrocutions - 82 fatalities (8.3 percent)
- Caught-In/Between - 72 fatalities (7.3 percent)
For clarification purposes, “caught-in/between” refers to workers being compressed or crushed by structures, vehicles, or objects while at a worksite.
The Risk of Injury for Construction Workers Is High
As you may have gathered, the risk of injuries and fatalities at construction sites can be quite high. OSHA estimates that 1 in 10 construction workers will be injured on the job over the course of a year. Thankfully not all injuries will be severe, but the fact that 10 percent of construction workers will suffer an injury of some kind should speak to the hazards of the field.
The High Risk of Fatal Injuries in Construction
According to numbers from Safety + Health, a construction worker with a 45-year career in the field has a 1 in 200 chance of dying on the job given all of the dangers that are present.
Contact an Experienced Accident Lawyer
For more information about your legal rights and options following a construction accident, be sure to contact an experienced injury accident attorney. The team at Tawwater Law Firm is here to help you. You can reach our legal office by phone at (405) 673-8021.