Falls seem like such simple and harmless events, yet as many of those in Hamilton that we here at Meziboy Butler have worked with in the past can attest to, they can easily produce tragic results. This is especially true if you work in the construction industry. You may think only your pride will sustain any injuries should you fall at work. Statistics show, however, that you may need to be much more concerned with falls from heights.
Data shared by The Center for Construction Research and Training shows that from 1992 through 2010, there were an average of 360 deaths suffered by construction workers each year due to falls, making them the most common cause of fatalities in the industry. There were also 18,130 falls reported in 2010 that caused construction workers to take time away from the job to recover.
As you might expect, a majority of the fatalities attributed to falls were suffered by people whose work is done from heights, such as roofers, ironworkers and power-line installers. Indeed, falls from roofs were the number one cause of fall fatalities. The next five most common causes of fatal falls were attributed to the following structures and equipment:
- Ladders
- Scaffolding
- Nonmoving vehicles
- Steel girders
Your employer is obligated to protect you and your coworkers from falls from heights. Standards set forth by the Occupation Safety and Health Administration mandate that all walking and working surfaces have the structural integrity and strength to support you safely. They also state that guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrests systems must be in place on any surfaces sitting six feet or more above the ground which have an unprotected side or edge.
More information on construction industry safety standards can be found by continuing to explore our site.
