Avoid the “Fatal Four” Construction Site Accidents

Construction sites can be dangerous; that’s why protective gear – especially hard hats and work boots – are critically important to all workers. However, those may not be helpful if you are victim to one the four most dangerous types of construction site accidents, the ones that cause the most deaths each year.

In 2011 (the most recent year for these types of stats), the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 17.5 percent of all deaths caused on private industry worksites were connected to the construction industry. Of the 4,114 total employee fatalities in private industry in 2011, 721 of them (17.5 percent) were in construction. The “Fatal Four” types of construction accidents, accounting for 57 percent of the construction-related deaths in 2011, were:

• Fall
• Electrocution
• Getting struck by an object
• Getting caught-in-between other objects

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics further revealed that, statistically, 410 lives could be saved annually, if efforts to increase safety features in these four areas were improved.

If you are a construction worker, make sure all safety equipment is in place – and in good working order – before beginning a job. If you believe something is missing, or you feel unsafe, question management. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you or someone you know has been injured on a construction site accident, talk to experienced Cherry Hill construction site lawyer Ron Graziano of Graziano & Flynn. He will investigate if you have a third party claim (meaning someone other than your employer was responsible for your accident) and get you compensated to the maximum extent allowed by law.