Safety pays: harnessing the power of fall prevention

摘要

Construction workers are more likely to die on the job than workers in any other industry, and falls from heights take the heaviest toll. Laborers, carpenters and roofers had the largest number of fatal falls in construction, but they are not the only tradesmen susceptible to falls. Plumbers and mechanical contractors are also at risk. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 more than 10,000 construction workers in the private construction industry were injured after falling while working from heights on the job and another 255 workers were killed. Falls account for approximately 32% of work-related injury deaths in construction. Falls from heights cause the second-highest rate of non-fatal injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) study, small construction companies (10 or fewer employees) had the highest percentage of fatal falls in construction (64%).