Out of all industries, construction is one of the most dangerous. Construction workers have a higher chance of nonfatal and fatal injuries than other occupations. Over the years, OSHA pinpointed the most common causes of construction-related injuries.
The top four causes include falls, electrocutions, caught-in between injuries and being struck by injuries.
Construction falls
Improper mounting and dismounting, improper ladder use, uneven surfaces and lack of fall protection can lead to construction falls that result in catastrophic injuries and, in some cases, fatalities. All construction sites should have proper scaffolding and guardrails to prevent workers from falling.
Electrocutions
Despite electrocutions being preventable, they continue to be one of the more common causes of construction fatalities. Construction workers, including electricians, are more likely to face electrocution injuries than any other occupation. Many of the electrocutions happen because of direct contact with live electrical equipment. Most of the time, electrocutions occur because of OSHA violations. OSHA has a protocol for construction sites to follow to avoid injuries from electricity.
Caught in between and struck by injuries
In 2020, injuries due to falling objects comprised about 16 percent of all construction-related injuries. Struck injuries may occur due to objects or equipment falling from a height or workers striking objects. On a construction site, all structures must undergo proper bracing. Additionally, no one should place loads on concrete structures before they undergo a safety check.
Project managers must ensure workers follow all safety protocols and undergo proper training to reduce the risk of work-related injuries at a construction site.
