It's no secret that construction work can be very dangerous. But have you ever found yourself wondering, How dangerous is it really?
Injuries are a daily part of the construction industry. Some of these injuries can occur from faulty equipment, improper use of tools, heavy workloads, and sometimes the injury may not even be the worker's fault.
Below are 10 construction industry statistics. With this information, you will gain insight into how these construction injuries happen. You'll also learn how to protect yourself in a construction environment!
The Top 10 Construction Industry Statistics
- The cost of worker’s compensation due to construction accidents and injuries each year is estimated to be $2.5 billion in the US.
- Construction firms can save an average of $32,000 for every medically consulted injury they prevent from happening.
- Construction firms in the US save between $4 to $6 on the cost of injuries for every $1 invested in safety programs.
- One in every ten construction workers is injured each year in the US.
- 25% of construction workers worldwide are worried about getting injuries daily. Another 55% of construction workers believe they need to be trained on safety.
- Construction laborers are ranked as the construction occupation most susceptible to fatal injuries in the entire construction industry.
- Israel has the highest rates of construction accidents and injuries. The rates are twice as high as the European average.
- Construction workers in the US suffer more than 200,000 non-fatal injuries and over 1000 fatal injuries.
- Every year, 1.1% of construction workers who suffer severe injuries at a construction site miss work due to the injury.
- Injury rates in construction sites around the globe are 71% higher than the injury rates across all other industries.
How Can You Prevent Injuries at a Construction Site?
It’s crucial to plan and ensure safety before beginning work on a new construction site. Each site should have a pre-site meeting with all workers involved in the project. During this time, the project manager should review all the plans for the project. It includes materials lists, tool lists, and safety guidelines.
Also, proper equipment maintenance is crucial in preventing injuries at a construction site. Tools that are not properly maintained are more likely to break or malfunction and injure the workers.
It’s also obvious that workers must wear boots and other protective gear for their safety. They will be protected from injuries caused by falling objects and sprains. Also, safety gear protects construction workers from any electrical hazards.
Construction workers should also get safety training before beginning any job. This way, injury instances will be minimized.
This article was originally published on housegrail.com.
