Construction in Chicago and other parts of Illinois is always in progress. However, accidents do happen, especially when cranes and heavy equipment are present. In fact, 1 in 5 deaths among workers in the United States takes place in the construction industry. Both fatal and non-fatal accidents occur.
Statistics show that there are four types of construction accidents. They are the following:
• Falling
• Objects striking them
• Electrocution happening
• Objects smashing, catching or squeezing them
These types of accidents occur for 60% of construction-related deaths.
Fatalities
A total of 1,008 construction workers died on the job in 2020. Of the crane-related deaths, of which there are approximately 42 annually, an average of 42% involve a falling object. Falls also happen: they account for 34% of all construction deaths. With the elimination of falls, construction could 300 lives each year.
10.2 of every 100,000 construction workers suffer a fatal injury each year. This is the third highest rate of any industry.
Non-fatal injuries in construction
Missed work is the result that 1.1% of construction workers face when they have an injury. In the year 2020, construction injuries and illness rates were 24% higher than in other industries.
An interesting fact is that 25% of construction workers say they did not report injuries that were work-related. However, in 2020, there were 174,100 reported cases of injuries in this type of work.
Costs to workers and productivity
Health care, lost income, reduced quality of life for family members and lost production were all affected by injuries in construction. It costs $5 billion each year. Total workplace injury costs exceed $170 billion each year.
Company training in safety
OSHA says that companies may save $4 to $6 for every $1 invested in a health and safety program. It is an unsettling statistic that 67% of construction workers feel that standards are higher for productivity than for safety.
Statistics show that 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers take place in the construction industry. With a need for more safety training, 25% or workers worry about injury every day.
