Deadly Construction Accidents on the Rise

In North Carolina, construction workers often head to the job knowing that they face the risk of serious workplace accidents and injuries, even when they follow standard safety protocol. The large, heavy materials and equipment used in constructing buildings and digging trenches can lead to devastating injuries. In addition, statistics indicate that very serious construction accidents, including fatal accidents, are on an upward trend. Between 2011 and 2015, the number of construction workers killed due to workplace accidents rose by 26 percent.

Some Workplace Accident Statistics

Some types of workplace accidents are particularly dangerous, according to the recent study. For example, fatal accidents in which workers were caught in or between objects rose by 33 percent within the same four-year period. Young workers under 20 and older workers are among the most likely to lose their lives in construction accidents. In the same period, over 800 construction workers across the country were killed by being struck by objects or equipment. Of these workers, 51 percent were killed by falling equipment and another 18 percent were hit by cars or trucks.

Of course, these statistics only highlight deaths in the workplace. Many construction workers face non-fatal yet serious accidents on the job on a daily basis. That’s why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets federal regulations for workplace safety in construction and also requires employers to track incidents when they occur. However, the agency is still developing a plan to provide public analysis of incident reporting.

Construction workers can face serious disabilities and injuries as a result of a workplace accident. Furthermore, medical bills can be costly and ongoing. A workers’ compensation lawyer can help an injured worker to protect their rights under the law and fight to receive the compensation to which they are entitled.