Construction Fatalities

Construction workers face dangerous situations at work every day. Falls from high places, heavy equipment accidents, faulty scaffolding, and unsafe work areas can result in serious and often fatal accidents. And those workers employed by smaller establishments may face the greatest risk of all. A recent study by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) found that almost half of all industry fatalities occur in construction companies with one to nine employees.

In fact, specialty trade workers who are often sub-contracted to smaller companies – such as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC workers – account for 56 percent of all construction fatalities. Most often, their injuries arise from ineffective training on safety guidelines and procedures, even though the major construction firm’s regular employees may be trained routinely.

The AGC recommends that contractors work alongside the specialty workers to ensure adherence to safety regulations. The ACG noted that a buddy system is especially important during spring and summer months, when the highest number of fatalities occur.

Contractors must make sure that specialty trade workers understand the precautionary measures that are vital to avoiding workplace accidents so they can help keep all workers safe on the job. Proper training on the use of protective safety equipment, workplace hazards, and materials handling can significantly reduce the chance of serious burns, fires, toxic material accidents, and falls from high places, which are the most common causes of construction fatalities.

Because falls from high places remain the leading cause of death among construction workers, the AGC suggests that construction companies evaluate their current fall safety programs and revise them to put more aggressive fall prevention measures in place to reduce the number of injuries. They also suggest that specialty trade workers be properly trained on fall prevention programs before they begin work at construction sites. Workers aged 65 and older were found to be at a greater risk of death at construction sites, especially from falls.

Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Offer Skilled Representation in Cases Involving Construction Fatalities

Construction work is a dangerous occupation, and the risks of dying from a construction workplace accident are higher than in any other industry. The Philadelphia construction accident lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP are staunch advocates for construction workers and their families. If you have – or someone you love has –  been seriously injured on the job, please call us at 800-222-8792, or contact us online to schedule a consultation today. Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, and Bethlehem and we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.