U.S. National Census Reveals Construction Jobs Are Among the Most Dangerous

Chicago, IL (Law Firm Newswire) March 8, 2019 – Certain occupations like construction work continue to have a much higher risk of death on the job than others, according to the latest data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Fatal injuries in the construction trade accounted for 14.5 percent of total worker deaths in the United States in 2017.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released the findings of its annual CFOI report at the end of 2018. There were 5,147 fatal work accidents in 2017, marking a slight drop from the 5,190 workplace deaths reported the previous year. The CFOI identified 10 jobs that had high rates of fatal work accidents in 2017. The list included several construction-related jobs such as steel workers and roofers.

“The report demonstrates that more action must be taken nationwide to prevent serious injuries and deaths in the workplace,” commented Paul Greenberg, a personal injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. “The dangers of construction work can be reduced with attention to proper safety measures and equipment. If you are a worker who has been injured in a workplace accident, you are entitled to workers’ compensation.”

National Safety Council Manager of Statistics Ken Kolosh told 24/7 Wall St. that jobs with the highest fatality rates often involve working from dangerous heights, driving for long periods or coming into contact with hazardous equipment. Such tasks are common in the construction industry.

Using the CFOI data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 25 most dangerous jobs that had more than double the fatality rates across all occupations. Construction-related jobs appeared six times on the list. There were 259 workplace deaths and 21,760 nonfatal injuries among construction workers in 2017.

The CFOI report found that fatal falls were at their highest level in its 26-year history. They accounted for 17 percent of total worker deaths in 2017. Construction employees often work at dangerous heights on scaffolding and ladders. They also operate heavy machinery and powerful tools on a daily basis. Around one-third of fatal accidents among construction workers were slip and falls while one in five were caused by contact with equipment.

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