“Fatal Four” Responsible for 6 in 10 Construction Worker Fatalities

/0 Comments/in /by

Construction work is inherently one of the most hazardous jobs in the country due to the presence of heavy machinery, tall heights, strenuous activity, electrical hazards, caustic chemicals, and more. In fact, in 2014 alone, roughly 4,700 workers died after being injured in a workplace accident. The majority of these fatalities resulted from four main causes, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has called the “Fatal Four.”

According to OSHA, the following types of accidents cause approximately 60 percent of all construction worker fatalities:

  • Falls. Without the appropriate safety equipment, such as harnesses and secure scaffolding, workers may fall from great heights. Fall injuries may also result from things like defective equipment, such as an old ladder.
  • Struck by object. Even relatively small objects can be lethal if dropped from a great height. If a worker is hit by a falling tool or piece of debris, the impact can be enough to cause catastrophic injury or death.
  • Caught in or between. This happens when a worker becomes wedged in between two objects; for example, becoming pinned between a vehicle and a wall.
  • Electrocutions. Construction workers often have to work with electrical systems on the job site. If the system is not correctly configured, or if a critical safety regulation has been violated, the worker could sustain a fatal electrocution injury.

Sometimes, workplace accidents result when negligent employers choose not to abide by OSHA safety regulations. If you believe your injury or the death of your loved one was caused by an employer’s safety violation, please call Amanda Hall Injury Law to speak with a Woodstock personal injury attorney. We may be able to help you obtain compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, and, if applicable, loss of consortium, funeral and burial costs, and other wrongful death damages.

Backed by more than 45 years of combined experience, our firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients since our firm opened in 1990. To learn more about your legal options after a construction accident, please call us today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We accept calls 24/7 at .