The Perecman Firm, is proud to support Construction Safety Week 2021! Construction Safety Week (May 3 – May 7) is an annual campaign that stresses the importance of prioritizing safety, sound workplace practices, and regulatory compliance in construction. Throughout the week, advocates share resources and strategies to strengthen the industry’s culture of safety. Similar campaigns, including NYC’s build safe | live safe Safety & Sustainability Conference, are held locally across the country during safety week.
Construction Accident Statistics
As a firm that fights for construction accident victims across NYC, we’re happy to be a part of efforts to eliminate injuries and deaths on construction sites nationwide. That’s because we know all too well how dangerous working in construction can be. According to statistics from NYC Buildings and OSHA:- 1,061 workers were killed in construction accidents nationwide in 2019.
- Roughly 20% of all worker fatalities (1 in 5) are in construction.
- In NYC, construction accidents caused 595 injuries and 12 deaths in NYC.
- Leading causes of construction-related accidents in NYC in 2019 included falls, material failure, and scaffolding.
OSHA’s Fatal Four
The risks of working on a construction site are well known and thanks to statistics, agencies like OSHA have been able to target the most concerning underlying causes of accidents. OSHA’s Fatal Four, for example, is a program that focuses on reducing risks associated with the four leading causes of worksite fatalities. These include:- Falls. Over 36% of all workplace deaths result from workers falling. This can include falls from heights to lower levels, ladder falls, scaffolding accidents, and slip, trip, and fall accidents.
- Struck by Object. As much as 10% of workplace fatalities occur when workers are struck by falling objects, swinging equipment, construction vehicles, and worksite debris.
- Electrocution. Electrocution accounts for nearly 9% of worker deaths annually. On construction sites, electrocutions commonly involve overhead power lines, energized conductors, cords and power tools, and circuitry in electrical and equipment panels.
- Caught-in / Caught-between. Accidents where workers are caught in or between machinery, tools or building materials account for about 2.5% of worker fatalities. This can also include excavation and trench accidents and building collapses.
Promote Worksite Safety with these Helpful Steps
Strengthening the construction industry’s culture of safety requires collaboration and contributions from developers, employers, and workers alike. Here are few helpful tips.For Employers:
- Create comprehensive health and safety plans tailored to worksites and tasks.
- Implement training programs that invest in educating workers about safety.
- Always prepare in advance for projects by walking worksites and creating custom plans that allow workers to complete their tasks in the safest possible manner.
- Get feedback from workers about safety practices and policies, and use findings to improve plans. You can also audit safety plans by performing job site safety reviews to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest standards and regulations.
- Provide your workers with the PPE and equipment they need to complete jobs safely.
For Workers:
- Familiarize yourself with your employer’s health and safety plan, jobsite policies, and best practices for work.
- Make sure you know how to properly and safely complete tasks or what to do if you are not comfortable completing a job – especially for tasks that should be performed by qualified tradesmen.
- Know your employer’s emergency and catastrophe protocol, how to react to accidents (i.e., turning off the power, calling 911), and where emergency exits are located on every job site.
- Always inspect tools and equipment before using them and avoid using gear that is broken, worn, and potentially hazardous.
- Whenever working from heights, always ensure you use best practices for setting up ladders and scaffolding, keep elevated work surfaces free from hazards, and use proper PPE.