23 Important Statistics About Construction Accidents

The construction industry has seen a 25% increase in employees in the last decade. The surge in workers is directly linked to the surge in available construction projects. With nearly 11.4 million U.S. workers employed in construction, work-related accidents are, unfortunately, inevitable. That is not to say they could not have been avoided. Many work-related injuries could have been avoided if the proper safety protocols were followed and if the proper safety procedures had been put in place by the employer.

To shed light on work-related construction accidents, we’ve compiled a list of 23 important statistics that may help you avoid a work related injury.

Construction Accidents in Numbers

Due to the sheer number of construction projects, sites, and workers, accidents are bound to occur. Construction jobs can be dangerous by nature, too. One mistake or equipment malfunction can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. The following are statistics collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Construction Injuries

1. The construction industry experiences 71% higher rates of injury than any other industry.
2. Over 25% of construction workers claimed that they failed to report a work-related injury.
3. 8.5% of all injuries that result in lost days of work stem from the construction industry.
4. In 2018 alone, there were 195,600 injury cases in the private construction sector.
5. Construction workers most likely to sustain an injury were 25-34 years old.
6. On an annual basis, 1.7% of all construction workers will sustain a serious enough injury that they have to miss work.

Catastrophic Injuries

7. U.S. construction workers make up one in five, or 20%, of work-related deaths.
8. In 2019, 1,061 construction workers were killed on job sites.
9. Falls are responsible for one-third of all construction deaths. It is estimated that by eliminating fall accidents on construction sites, 300 lives would be spared each year.
10. Out of 100,000 construction workers, 9.7 workers will suffer a fatal injury.
11. 60% of crane-related deaths involve a falling object.
12. The leading causes of construction deaths, also known as the “Fatal Four” include falls, being struck by equipment, being caught in between, and electrocutions. These four types of accidents make up over 60% of all construction-related deaths.

Safety Training Statistics

13. According to OSHA, construction companies save anywhere from $4 to $6 for every $1 invested in safety and training programs.
14. The average cost of an injury in 2019 was $42,000 while the average cost per fatality totaled $1,220,000.
15. On average, construction companies use 2.6% of their total budget on safety training but spend 3.6% of their annual budget on injury claims.
16. 67% of polled construction workers feel that construction companies prioritize productivity over safety.
17. Additionally, 25% of construction workers worry that they will sustain an injury daily.
18. Nearly 55% of construction workers feel that they need more training to do their jobs safely.
19. More than 60% of construction accidents happen within an employee’s first year on the job.

Construction Injury Costs

20. An estimated $5 billion is spent each year to cover the costs of fatal construction injuries. Costs include healthcare, lost income, reduced quality of life, and lost production.
21. In total, the cost for all construction injuries in the United States is upwards of $11.5 billion.
22. Workers’ compensation claims for non-fatal falls cost $2.5 billion each year.
23. Over 130,000 construction workers had to miss work in 2019 due to work-related accidents.

What to Do After a Construction Accident

Construction accidents happen every day. If you’ve been involved in a construction-related accident, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Construction companies, like most employers, and their insurance companies, will often act according to their own self-interest. In other words, they will try to pay the injured worker as little as possible.

This is where a construction accident attorney plays a critical role.

Since the company is familiar with this process, you will need someone with your best interest in mind fighting for you. Your construction accident attorney will manage the claims process and work toward getting you fair compensation so you can focus on your recovery. Our legal team of workplace injury lawyers at Sandoval & James is well-versed in fighting for construction workers injured on the job.