One in Five Workforce Fatalities Were in Construction

Out of 4,779 worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2018, 1,008 or 21.1% were in construction — that is, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction. The leading causes of private sector worker deaths (excluding highway collisions) in the construction industry were falls, followed by struck by object, electrocution, and caught-in/between.

These "Fatal Four" were responsible for more than half (58.6%) the construction worker deaths in 2018. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 591 workers' lives in America every year.

• Falls – 338 out of 1,008 total deaths in construction in CY 2018 (33.5%)
• Struck by Object – 112 (11.1%)
• Electrocutions – 86 (8.5%)
• Caught-in/between* – 55 (5.5%)
  (*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)

Other Shocking Safety Stats from OSHA:

• One fatal injury costs an average of $991,027 in hospital costs.
• Indirect costs for injuries in the construction industry can be as much as 17 times more than direct costs.
• Companies with 10 or fewer employees and those who are self-employed account for nearly half of all deaths on construction sites.
• One in every 10 construction workers is injured annually.
• Workers who are between the ages of 25 and 34 are the most likely to be injured while working in construction.

Top 10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Standards Violated in FY 2018
The following were the top 10 most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA in fiscal year 2018 (October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018):

1. Fall protection
2. Hazard communication standard
3. Scaffolding, general requirements
4. Respiratory protection
5. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
6. Ladders
7. Powered industrial trucks
8. Fall Protection–Training Requirements
9. Machinery and Machine Guarding
10. Eye and Face Protection 

AGC of East Tennessee can provide your team with top-notch safety training.  Click here to fill out our safety training request form, or contact Carol Pond at carol@agcetn.org or (423) 265-1111.