New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer: Study Shows Falls Are Leading Cause of Injury and Death on Construction Sites
According to a study conducted by the Center for the Protection of Worker Rights (CPWR) and The Center for Construction Research and Training, the leading cause of injury and death on construction sites across the United States is falls. The study, which looked at fatal and non-fatal injuries on American construction sites between 1992 and 2010, found that, on average, falls accounted for about one in three construction site accidents.
Fatal Construction Site Falls
During the 18 year period of the study, nearly 7,000 construction workers died in falls, with an average of about 360 every year. Falls caused the death of nearly half (48.7%) of the fatal accidents in residential construction during the period of the study. Older construction workers were at greater risk to die in a fall, as were Hispanic construction workers. The specialty with the highest fatality rate—electrical workers, who were nine times more likely to die in a fall than the average construction worker. Roofers and iron workers also had high fatality rates linked to falls, at nearly eight times the average rate.
Non-Fatal Falls
In addition to fatal accidents, falls are also involved in nearly 20,000 construction site injuries every year—about one in four non-fatal construction site accidents. Construction site workers were at greater risk of injury in a fall than all other industries combined.
Causes
Far and away, the primary cause of death and injury in construction site falls involved falls from one level of a project to another, either because of the absence of guardrails or other protective measures, or the breakdown of ladders or scaffolding. About one in three such falls were off the roof of a residential or commercial structure.
Contact the New Jersey Construction Site Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr
The Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr have fought for the rights of injured workers in central New Jersey for more than four decades. We carefully choose the cases we handle, so that we can provide the highest levels of service and personal attention to each client. We are also happy to take over your case, if your first lawyer does not seem to have your best interests in mind.
To set us a free initial consultation, send us an e-mail or call our office at 732-537-8570 (toll-free at 1-877-249-4600).
