Construction Accident Statistics
Construction is widely recognized as one of the most dangerous fields of work. This reputation is well-earned. Each year, thousands of construction workers across the nation are injured in construction accidents, and hundreds die as a result of those injuries.
Construction accident attorney Lynn C. Harris understands the damages that these types of accidents can cause. He has represented numerous construction accident victims from the Salt Lake City, UT, and Provo, UT, area as they pursue financial compensation for damages. Here, we present construction accident statistics that demonstrate the dangers faced by construction workers locally and across the country.
National Construction Accident Statistics
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) collects data each year regarding the United States construction industry, including the number of construction fatalities. The agency reports that, in 2019, 11.4 million U.S. workers were employed in the field of construction. During the same year, 991 construction accident fatalities were recorded. Of these, over one-third (36.4 percent) of construction accident fatalities were the result of falls to a lower level.
The Fatal Four of Construction Accidents
Any construction accident can result in catastrophic injuries, but four types of accidents are responsible for the majority of construction accident deaths. As such, they have earned the title the fatal four. The fatal four construction accidents include falls, struck-by incidents, electrocutions, and caught-in between incidents. According to data reported by the NIOSH, here are the number of fatalities caused by each of these types of construction accidents during 2019:
- Falls - 401 deaths
- Struck-by incidents - 170 deaths
- Electrocutions - 79 deaths
- Caught-in between incidents - 59 deaths
Construction Accident Injuries and Fatalities in Utah
It is important to consider not only how construction accidents affect workers across the country, but also how they impact workers in Salt Lake City and across the state of Utah. The Utah Labor Commission’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health Bureau of Labor Statistics (UOSH BLS) has recently released nonfatal occupational illness and injury data for 2019 as well as fatal occupational injury data for 2019.
According to reported data, the overall incidence rate of nonfatal illness and injuries among Utah construction workers during 2019 was 2.8 per 100 full-time workers. The good news is that this was a significant decrease from 2018, when the rate of nonfatal illness and injuries for Utah construction workers was 3.3. The rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted in construction workers requiring days away from work in 2019 was 0.8 per 100 full-time workers.
While the number of nonfatal injuries among Utah construction workers decreased from 2018 to 2019, the number of occupation fatalities in Utah increased during the same timeframe. In 2018 the state accounted for 49 work-related deaths. That number increased to 51 in 2019. The field of construction accounted for 14 of those deaths, ranking it as the occupational field with the second highest fatal injury rate in the state (10.2 fatal injuries for every 100,000 workers).
Contact Us
Most construction accident injuries and fatalities are preventable. If you or a loved one has suffered physical and financial damages related to a construction accident, attorney Lynn C. Harris can determine if you are due financial compensation for your losses. To schedule a case review, send us a message online or call (801) 521-3200 at your earliest convenience.
