What Work Activities Put Construction Workers Most at Risk?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a steady decline in construction accidents from 2006 through 2011, and attributes economic conditions to explain much of the decline. Even so, construction is the second most dangerous industry in terms of fatalities, second only to transportation and warehousing. Workers seriously injured in construction accidents in West Virginia can often seek compensation through workers compensation or third-party personal injury claims.
The American Public Health Association (APHA) indicates that construction workers have greater risk of premature death than other workers. Over a 45-year career, construction workers have a 75 percent likelihood of experiencing a disabling injury and a one-in-200 chance of a fatal job injury. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the four most dangerous activities for construction worker fatalities (and it calls these “the fatal four”) are:
- Falls (35 percent)
- Struck by object (10 percent)
- Electrocutions (9 percent)
- Caught-in/between accidents (3 percent)
“Caught-in/between” incidents refer to being caught inside of or in between different objects, such as in excavations where walls cave in, when workers are caught between pipes, get stuck between a forklift and cargo or caught too close to heavy equipment when guards are removed.
When you suffer serious injury at a construction site, a work injury attorney in West Virginia can investigate to determine causes and identify responsible parties. OHSA violations or other negligence on the part of third parties often allow you hold them accountable and recover compensation.
The Prim Law Firm has obtained hundreds of settlements and also jury verdicts for individuals with injuries or families who lost loved ones in the construction industry.