Construction workers have a highly dangerous job that requires skill and lots of safety training. One small error can result in injuries to another worker, sometimes even multiple workers. At worst, a worker can be killed on the job. That's why untrained workers have been a cause for concern.
The concerns of construction leaders
In a survey conducted by USG Corp. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than 2,700 construction leaders expressed safety concerns, presented in the Commercial Construction Index for the third quarter of 2018.
The survey found:
- 58 percent believed that dangerous work sites were attributed to unskilled workers
- 62 percent believed that work sites will become more dangerous within the next three years
- 80 percent expressed only moderate concern about worksite risks
- 26 percent expressed high concern about worksite risks
When asked about construction schedules:
- 49 percent believed that shorter schedules were a cause for concern
- 47 percent believed shorter schedules would be a problem within the next three years
When asked about drug and alcohol use on the job:
- 71 percent expressed moderate concern about worker opioid use
- 39 percent expressed high concern about worker opioid use
- 58 percent expressed moderate concern about alcohol
54 percent expressed general concern about marijuana use The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports a total of 4,693 private industry work fatalities in 2016, with roughly 21 percent (991) happening in construction. Most of these deaths were attributed to the "fatal four," which include:
- Falls: 384 deaths (38.7%)
- Struck by objects: 93 deaths (9.4%)
- Electrocutions: 82 deaths (8.3%)
- Caught in and between (equipment or objects): 72 deaths (7.3%)
Filing a workers' compensation claim
Having highly skilled workers can go a long way toward preventing devastating work accidents. However, if the errors of an untrained or unskilled worker resulted in your injury, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits.
An experienced attorney at the Law Offices of Richard A. Jaffe, LLC can help guide you through the process and ensure that you are treated fairly. We have decades of experience helping injured construction workers maximize their benefits so they can afford to make ends meet while spending time away from work. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.