Construction is a very dangerous field: there was a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries recorded in 2016, according to statistics from the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The average is 99 deaths per week, or about 14 deaths per day. Around one in five work related deaths occur in the construction industry.

While construction can be dangerous, that doesn’t mean that your workers have to be put at risk. In addition to having insurance for construction workers, construction operations can reduce the risk of accident at their worksite by understanding the most common liabilities and sources of injuries, and working to reduce those risks.

The Fatal Four

Besides highway collisions, construction workers often have to worry about the “Fatal Four”, the top reasons for worker-related deaths. The “Fatal Four” were responsible for more than half (63.7 percent) of construction worker deaths in 2016. Eliminating the Fatal Four would result in 631 less deaths in America per year. The “Fatal Four” are:

• Falls – 384 of 991 of total deaths in construction in 2016 (38.7 percent). Be safe when on ladders and scaffolding. These are some of the things that can cause a fatal fall to happen while on the job.
• Struck by object – 93 deaths (9.4 percent) There are many things that might be falling while a construction worker is on the job. That’s why it’s imperative to have the proper hard hat protection for your workers.
• Electrocutions – 82 deaths (8.3 percent) Faulty wiring can be killer. Make sure your workers are aware of their surroundings while on the job.
• Caught-in/between – 72 deaths (7.3 percent) Common things that may happen include getting pinned in between equipment, such as heavy machinery or moving vehicles.

Other Hazards

In addition to the previous four hazards, the top 10 most frequently cited violated OSHA standards of 2017 include:

1. Fall protection (construction)
2. Hazard communication standard (general industry)
3. Scaffolding, general requirements (construction)
4. Respiratory protection (general industry)
5. Control of hazardous energy, lockout/tagout (general industry)
6. Ladders (construction)
7. Powered industrial trucks (general industry)
8. Machinery and Machine Guarding (general requirements)
9. Fall Protection–Training Requirements
10. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment (general industry)

With so many potential hazards and sources of accident and injury, it is imperative that construction operations be protected with an insurance package specifically designed for the construction sector. Contact your insurance agent today to learn more about how to design a package specifically for your operation’s needs.

About ISU / The Olson Duncan Agency

At ISU – The Olson Duncan Agency, our goal is to provide clients with a total solution, not just a quote or a contract. We provide businesses and individuals with insurance and risk management solutions, and we aim to provide real value and build trustworthy, long-term relationships with our clients. To learn more about our services, give us a call today at (310) 373-6441 to speak with one of our professionals.