Teamwork in Construction Activities Stats and Facts
FACTS
Major Hazards on Construction Sites
- Construction involves buildings going up and coming down, as well as excavations and the building of trenches.
- When working practices are disorganized and rushed, such as undertaking electrical work in wet conditions or using non-professionals to complete electrical work, electricity presents additional hazards.
- Failure to use PPE correctly or using damaged or inadequate PPE can mean that workers are exposed to harmful materials such as asbestos and long-term risk from dust particles (emanating from plaster, brick, stone).
- Unexpected collapse also means exposure to harmful materials whilst the repeated handling and use of toxic substances such as adhesives, solvents, paints and other corrosive chemical solutions presents risk.
- Sudden loud volume can be hazardous for workers, but it’s also exposure to long-term, repetitive sounds such as drills and compressors which can lead to short- or long-term problems, including hearing loss.
STATS
Fatal Construction Industry Statistics
- 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers is in the construction industry. [OSHA]
- Of the 42 annual crane-related deaths, around 60% involve a falling object. [BLS]
- A total of 1,008 construction workers died on the job in 2020. [BLS]
- Each year, 10.2 of every 100,000 construction workers suffer a fatal injury.
- Falls account for 34% of all construction deaths — eliminating falls saves 300 lives per year.
- The “Fatal Four” leading causes of construction deaths (falls, struck by equipment, caught in between objects and electrocutions) account for over 60% of all construction-related deaths. [OSHA]
Non-Fatal Construction Injuries
- Each year, 1.1% of construction workers suffer an injury serious enough that they miss work. [BLS]
- The construction industry accounts for 6% of all injuries that result in lost days of work. [BLS]
- More than 25% of construction workers indicate that they have failed to report a work-related injury. [CPWR]
- In 2020, there were 174,100 cases of injuries in the construction sector. [BLS]