When you think of “potentially fatal construction jobs,” you probably picture workers on high-rise scaffolding and using heavy machinery. In reality, the fatalities can come from just about any kind of construction work, including drywall installation, roadwork and landscaping.
According to the Minnesota division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 38% of the workplace fatalities in fiscal year 2019 involved construction of some sort — which isn’t necessarily surprising. What researchers found when they looked deeper, however, did startle them. They didn’t realize just how dangerous working around construction can be for those in satellite fields, like landscaping — which are typically thought of as a safer type of physical occupation.
Officials say this is disturbing because it indicates that workers aren’t being given enough training to identify safety hazards when they see them. They’re dying in preventable accidents.
In many high-intensity, physical occupations, there can be significant turnover among employees. New employees are often pushed to get up to speed very quickly — and they may not be trained sufficiently to recognize things like the warning signs of heat stress or heat stroke, danger from moving equipment, or where debris may fall from tree trimmings or buildings being torn apart.
If your loved one died or was severely injured while working construction, there may be a number of potential benefits that are available to you, including burial expenses for the deceased and benefits for dependent spouses and children. You may also have an independent claim against a company or employer due to negligence. Your family’s security and safety are important — so, find out more about how you can claim what you are due after a serious workplace injury.
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