Construction jobs are probably one of the first jobs that come to mind when you think of dangerous and potentially hazardous work. With the many tools and trades of the construction industry comes many opportunities for accidents. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has extensive data telling us that one in five worker fatalities in 2019 was within the construction industry, so there is no question that construction jobs can pose a real danger to workers.
OHSA’s Fatal Four
According to OSHA, there are four commonly fatal jobsite injuries to be careful of. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that more than 58% of deaths in construction were caused by one of these “fatal four” injuries:
- Falls
- Struck by Object
- Electrocutions
- Caught-in/between*
(*This category includes construction workers killed when caught-in or compressed by equipment or objects, and struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material)
Keep your workers safe on the job
Proper signage on job sites will be helpful to all the different trades and subcontractors you may have passing through your project. Appropriate signs and signals will decrease your liability as a construction company and will also provide guidance to everyone on the team and surrounding the site. Prevent subcontractor injuries by providing signage dedicated to protective equipment and hardhats. Read more about some construction safety technology being used on sites around the country here.
Winter weather can come with a slew of slip and fall injuries. Wet and icy surfaces can be very common among construction worksites, so it is best to monitor the outside temperatures and take necessary precautions, like salting, shoveling snow or slush, and tarping structures and equipment. Heavy wind can cause some serious risk if there are materials or equipment that could get caught in the wind and fly around, possibly striking a worker. Construction work is dangerous enough as it is without taking inclement weather into account, so be prepared to make adjustments to your timeline.
Ensure your workers are following all safety protocols and guidelines that are set forth by management. Failure to comply could lead to injury or death of personnel, and make the construction company liable. Making safety a priority will benefit your workers as well as your company as a whole. Do you have any jobsite injury stories or safety tips you’d like to share? Contact us here to tell us about it!
