Fall accidents are one of the leading causes of fatality in the construction industry. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in 2010, the construction industry reported a total of 774 fatalities in the industry, and out of these, 264 fatalities were related to fall accidents. Federal agencies have now launched a special campaign to help prevent falls.
The campaign has been launched by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Center for Construction Research and Training. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that in 2010, approximately 10,000 construction workers were injured as a result of fall accidents. People who are injured in falls, typically suffer devastating injuries like brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. These are catastrophic injuries that can severely limit the ability of a person to lead a normal life. Such people may never be able to return to work and lead a productive life again. The costs of such fall accidents are immense.
That is the reason why federal agencies have launched a new nationwide outreach program that is aimed at raising awareness among workers as well as employers about the risks of fall accidents. Falls on construction sites involve falls from ladders, scaffolding, and roofing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a number of recommendations for employers to reduce the risk of fall accidents. These include the provision of adequate safety equipment and personal fall protection gear at a construction site. Certain workers like tall workers above 6 feet in height may be at a much higher risk of fatality or injury during a fall. Workers must also be provided well-designed and safely constructed scaffolding, and safe and sturdy ladders.