Personal Injury Lawyer
In general, American workplaces are safer than they used to be. Worker deaths in the US are down on average from about 38 worker deaths per day in 1970 to 14 deaths per day in 2017. Worker injuries and illnesses are down from 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.8 per 100 in 2017.
Every 7 seconds a worker is injured on the job, many of these injuries are preventable. Falls are the largest cause of deadly construction injuries, the most violated OSHA standard concerns fall protection. The construction job that has the highest injury rate is ironwork.
New York City has seen a recent jump in construction deaths. Statistics show that accidents, injuries, and deaths are on the rise, and construction has become the deadliest job in New York City according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
During the month of April 2019, there were three fatalities including one worker crushed by a crane in SoHo and another killed by falling debris on Manhattan’s east side.
The city data reveals that construction site deaths are up 33 percent from five years ago. Worksite injuries are up 221 percent for the same time period.
Some people believe these numbers are due to contractors underbidding the job, cutting corners everywhere they can, and hiring cheap labor.
Others acknowledge that construction has always been a dangerous profession, but the deadlines and pressures are causing people to take extra risks. Without enough time or proper equipment training, it becomes harder to work safely.
There are approximately 45,000 active construction sites in the city, and the Department of Buildings Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement estimates that a quarter of those sites are not in compliance with safety regulations. They are working to change that, they have sent out 90 inspectors for two weeks with 12-hour shifts to inspect 5,000 sites.
Currently, construction workers are required to have 10 hours of safety training. By 2020, they will be required to have 40 hours. In the Construction industry, “the gap between what is said and what is actually done is alarming,” according to a new report regarding construction safety. 90 percent of construction professionals who responded to a survey for the “People in Construction 2019 report” by FireStarter Speaking & Consulting identified safety as a top priority. 78 percent said they consistently work safely, but 68% of field supervisors do not prioritize the safety of their employees.
If you or a loved one has been injured at a construction site, a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix, AZ can discuss your situation and legal options. Call today.
Thanks to The Law Office of Paul Englander, PLC for their insight into personal injury claims and construction accident deaths and injuries.
