By the numbers – Out of 4,836* worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2015, 937 or 19% were in construction―that is, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction. The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were falls, followed by struck-by, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These “Fatal Four” hazards were responsible for well over half (64.2%) of the construction worker deaths in 2015*, according to BLS reports.
Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 602 workers’ lives in America every year. Did you know: “Electrocutions from equipment installation or tool use jumped to the second leading fatal cause for the 3rd quarter in 2016. This is an increase of 400% over the previous quarter and more than double the total events for the year to date.”
Source: Construction Industry Digest Research and Policy Center Quarterly report July—September 2016 VOL. 5 NO. 3