The Four Deadliest Types of Construction Site Accidents, According to OSHA
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 4,114 work-related deaths occurred in 2011. More than 700 of these deaths—almost 20 percent—were in construction.
While many factors contribute to the risks associated with working at a construction site, four distinct types of accidents emerged from the data analyzed by OSHA as being the deadliest of all. OSHA referred to these as the “fatal four”:
- Falls (35 percent of deaths)
- Struck by an object (10 percent of deaths)
- Electrocutions (9 percent of deaths)
- Caught in or between (3 percent of deaths)
Combined, these four types of work accidents accounted for more than 400 deaths—or nearly three out of every five fatalities—that occurred on construction sites in 2011.
Negligence is often a contributory factor in fatal construction site accidents, and it’s not always negligence on the part of the person who is killed. Many times it’s another worker, a manager, a contractor, a supplier, a manufacturer, or some other party who is negligent.
It is true that if you have been injured or someone you love has been killed in a work-related Houston accident, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your damages. Those damages include medical bills, the cost of ongoing care, lost wages, emotional suffering, and more.
The first step you should take if you believe you have a claim after a Texas construction job accident is to contact a Houston personal injury lawyer with experience in this area of the law. Call the law office of Steve Lee today at (800) 232-3711. Or, fill out the Quick Contact form on this page and we’ll be in touch with you promptly.