Hazards in Construction

Construction is one of the most hazardous occupations. Construction workers make up only 8 percent of the workforce, but account for 20 percent of all workplace fatalities. Each year, the construction industry as a whole sees about 1,100 fatalities and about 170,000 serious injuries. Of these, about 35 fatalities and 2,279 injuries are sustained by structural steel workers. These numbers have been steadily declining since peaking in 2006, in part because of lower employment numbers in construction, but also due to the adoption and enforcement of stricter health and safety guidelines. While the main cause of fatality in construction is falling, the circumstances behind the fall can frequently be attributed to poor design decisions or lack of planning. Other common causes of injury and fatality include falling objects, structural collapse, and exposure to toxic substances such as lead. OSHA estimates that 86 percent of fatalities and 50 percent of injuries can be prevented by full compliance with its safety standards.

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