Can You Guess the “Fatal Four” Leading Causes of Death in the Construction Industry?

If you peel through news stories about worker safety, you will likely notice a common theme: construction work is dangerous work, and construction workers are at risk of getting injured on the job or even being involved in a fatal work accident. Indeed, it seems that at least every week, if not more often, a new report is released detailing a serious or fatal construction accident somewhere within the United States. What many people (and perhaps even construction workers) may not be aware of is that there are four leading causes of death in the construction industry that workers face when they step onto most worksites. To help Louisiana construction workers and employers better understand these “Fatal Four” causes of workplace construction accidents, we share information about these hazards here.

The “Fatal Four”: Common Causes of Death in Construction

At the outset, it is important for construction workers and their employers to understand the gravity of the situation construction workers face when it comes to safety on construction sites: in 2021, 20% of fatal workplace accidents occurred in the construction industry. With a total of 5,190 workplace fatalities in that year, that means 1,083 construction workers died on the job in the United States in 2021. Even one workplace fatality is too many, but the numbers show that in construction work can be extremely deadly, and workers and employers must take extreme precaution to keep construction worksites safe.

Four common causes of fatal accidents in the construction industry have been identified by the BLS. These “Fatal Four” causes are:

• Falls: Construction workers are at risk of falling from heights and also from falling as a result of tripping on objects on the ground. Both types of falls can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly;
• Caught-In or Caught-Between Accidents: Workers can become seriously injured or die if they are caught in machinery, are suffocated or trapped in walls, trenches or collapses in excavation areas, and can also be caught between workplace vehicles and moving equipment;
• Electrocution: Exposed wiring and other electrocution risks pose a serious threat to workers on construction sites;
• Struck-By Accidents: When objects fall, swing, or shift, workers may be hit and can die or become seriously injured as a result. Even another worker dropping a tool accidentally can cause a serious or fatal struck-by accident on a construction site.

In sum, the “Fatal Four” causes of worksite accidents in construction should not be ignored. Workers and employers should review safety rules and guidance to avoid worker injuries and deaths from these known worker safety threats.

Legal Help for Injured Workers in Louisiana

If you were seriously injured at work in Louisiana and you need legal help obtaining Louisiana workers compensation benefits, contact the experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your workplace injury case and to see if they can help you get Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits due to you. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a Louisiana lawyer about your rights and options to workers’ compensation benefits for free.

Source:

tdi.texas.gov/tips/safety/oshafatal4.html