Construction jobs are not the only ones with high fall risks. Jobs that involve running and climbing also involve high risks of falling. Some examples of this might include military personnel, firefighters, police officers and electricians. In spite of this, construction workers have the highest fall fatality rates in any industry.
The CDC estimates that one-third of fatalities that occur on the job are due to falls. This makes it the leading cause of fatality among construction workers. Many people might think that the big New York construction companies take most of the blame for neglecting worker safety. However, it appears that construction companies with nine employees or less tend to account for most of the safety issues.
The CDC encourages companies to participate in the National Stand-Down campaign to show their commitment to worker safety. Workers who have suffered injuries on the job should try to encourage their employers to join the campaign. It encourages the following safety procedures:
- Proving workers with the necessary equipment for working at greater heights
- Investing in training workers on how to properly use the equipment, such as ladders
- Putting in the effort to plan job safety before starting any new project
Not surprisingly, the area of construction work that is especially dangerous is roofing. In fact, CNBC identifies roof construction as one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Even supervisors on construction sites are not without risk. First-line supervisors of extraction workers and construction trades had 21 fatalities per 100,000 full-time workers. Roofers were more than double this at 51.5 per 100,000 workers.
Organizations focused on safety in the U.S. often feel at a loss when it comes to reducing fall fatalities. No one should have to face such high risks of death to make a living in America.