Each year, thousands of construction employees fall victim fatal accidents. Even more unfortunate than the accidents themselves is the fact that, in many of these cases, the tragic event was completely preventable.
This is no more evident than when it comes to dealing with fatal falls in the workplace, as nearly half of all workplace related falls were due not having adequate safety railings in place.
Workplace safety should always be at the forefront of a business owner’s mind when compiling their standards and procedures. Safety is universal regardless of the industry you may be in, and should be held to a higher standard than any other business process or practice on the job.
Careers in construction are among the riskiest in the private sector. In fact, one in ten construction workers is injured every year, and a construction worker has a one in 200 chance of dying throughout a 45-year career!
Construction-Related Fall Accidents: The Fatalities
It’s no surprise that plenty of preventable workplace injuries and fatalities involve construction workers. As most jobs are high-risk and dangerous, the potential for catastrophe is greater than those in other private-sector industries.
So much so, in fact, that the risk of injury or death has begun to discourage younger members of the workforce from pursuing a career in construction. In the year 2000, the median age of construction workers was 37.9. By the time that figure was measured again in 2010, the number had jumped all the way to 40.4 years old.
Because of these dire straits, extra precautions must always be taken.
Jobs in construction have their own specific batch of common fall protection accidents that result in fatalities, including falls, struck by object injuries, electrocutions, utility trenching collapses, and caught-in/between injuries.
OSHA describes common construction fatalities as their Fatal Four. These accidents accounted for more than half of all construction-related deaths in 2017. Unfortunately, they are not only some of the most common, but also some of the most preventable.
In fact, OSHA estimates that 39.2% of these Fatal Four construction accidents were due to falls – something easily preventable through the utilization of effective rooftop safety railings and various rooftop safety equipment.
OSHA estimates that eliminating the Fatal Four would save 582 workers’ lives in America each year.
Deaths Due to Falling at Construction Sites
While all industries have their fair share of accidents and incidents, the construction industry stands high above the rest. According to OSHA, out of 4,674 worker fatalities in private industry for the calendar year 2017, 971 (or 20.7%) were in construction. Additionally, fall protection in construction was the number one most frequently cited OSHA violation for 2018.
Fatal falls aren’t anything new for the construction sector. A recently constructed database allowed researchers to determine that, over a 33-year period, falls accounted for nearly half of all construction worker deaths. What’s more, this database was also able to track and analyze all fall incidents from 1982-2015. The results were sobering, albeit perhaps not that surprising:
- 42% of the total fatalities analyzed involved falls from greater than six-feet
- 107 of the 325 falls were from 30 feet or higher, further illustrating the need for every company to have roof hatch safety guardrails in place, and roof access ladders
- 20% of the 768 deaths occurred in the victim’s first two months at work, leading many to believe that these workplaces are not adequately training their new hires before putting them into potentially dangerous situations
As is the case by and large throughout the industry, these falls were largely preventable. The same referenced study noted that, out of those fatalities, more than half of the workers involved lacked access to fall protection. This includes even basic protections such as freestanding handrail systems and flat roof railings.
Protection and Future Precautions in Construction Falls
Fortunately, preventive measures can be taken by construction companies to ensure the safety of their workers. Proactive management along with OSHA compliance can go a long way in protecting your workers and the reputation of your business – saving you time, money, and hardship in the process.
Many companies utilize a free-standing, non-penetrating 360 mobile safety rails along their rooftops or any height greater than six feet in the construction industry. Non-penetrating, removable safety railings and guardrail systems eliminate the need for costly, time-consuming construction as it relates to rooftop safety rails.
Most are easily installed, and will keep workers safe, along with keeping your company OSHA compliant. (As seen below.)
In addition to rooftop guardrails for metal roof fall protection, a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) or active restraint system can be used to protect workers operating on rooftops or other high surfaces. A PFAS is designed to stop falls before a worker reaches a lower level. This type of precaution is considered active vs passive fall protection. A harness can be attached to a rigid rail protection system, “arresting” a fall actively as opposed to railing or hatch equipment that was installed.
You can find additional (and specific) requirements below:
- OSHA low slope and flat roof requirements
- OSHA / IBC Guardrail requirements
- OSHA Toeboard requirements
- OSHA handrail requirements
Do you have more questions? Please contact our office for friendly support in both identifying your specific regulatory compliance requirements, as well as matching product selection.
