Workers in the construction industry have a much higher risk of being injured while on the job. Why is the construction industry so hazardous? One of the biggest reasons is the high fall risk construction workers face while on the job.
Falls from roofs are one of the most common types of workplace accidents for construction workers. In fact, these falls resulted in one-third of all fall-related construction fatalities during the last two decades, according to the Center for Construction Research and Training Data Center. They reported that 6,591 injuries were caused from construction roof falls during 1992 to 2009 in the U.S., with 2,163 roof falls being fatal.
The report noted that certain workers may be at a higher risk for falls, including workers who are employed by smaller companies, those working on resident construction sites, and Hispanic and immigrant workers.
Falls remain a considerable safety hazard for construction workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that 76 percent of fatalities in the construction roofing industry are caused by falls. In addition, those working in the roofing industry are three times more likely to suffer a fatal workplace injury compared to other construction workers.
Construction safety advocates say that the roofing industry needs to create better fall protection programs that educate and train workers on safety precautions to take while working to prevent the risk of falls. Specifically, employers should have written guidelines on what type of protection will be provided to prevent falls and employers need to enforce fall protection programs at all times to reduce the risk of falls.
Source: EHS Today, "Falls from Roofs Account for One-Third of Construction Fall Fatalities," Laura Walter, April 16, 2013
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