The Current Situation

Probably the highest injury sector, construction creates many different occupational hazards. Exposure to heights, confined space, chemical exposure, electrical shock and other common hazards are part of daily life. The majority of injuries on building sites relate to manual tasks – lifting, pushing, pulling, etc.

According to the 2003 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, in 2001 serious work related injuries and illnesses (those that kept the worker of the job for 6 days or more) cost US businesses $45.8 billion. This figure is merely the direct cost paid to the injured employees and their medical care providers . T he top three serious workplace injuries (those which result in the employee missing 6 days or more) cost US businesses $22.9 billion in 2001 or 50.1% of the $45.8 billion. The three injuries are:

Overexertion . These are injuries caused by excessive lifting, pushing, holding, carrying or throwing an object. Overexertion accounted for $12.5 billion or 27.3% of the total financial burden.
Falls on the same level . These injuries are caused by slipping and tripping on water, grease, holes and other potential fall hazards and landing on the same level of floor. These injuries accounted for $5.7 billion or 12.6% of the total financial burden.
Bodily Reaction . These injuries are caused by bending, climbing, slipping or tripping without falling. Bodily Reaction injuries accounted for $4.7 billion or 10.2% of the total financial burden.

All three of these injury types are common occurrences around construction sites.

Since the construction industry is so diverse it becomes difficult to regulate effectively, standards for handling fuel, scaffolding, dredging and other high-risk tasks exist, but the effort of communicating the hazards to workers is difficult.

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