Falls are the number one cause of workplace fatalities for construction workers, and up to five construction workers are killed each week due to fall injuries.

Fall injuries are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While falls and the resulting injuries they cause are a major concern for many industries, they are perhaps of the gravest concern in the construction injury where, as the Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America reports:

• Falls are reportedly the number one cause of workplace fatalities for construction workers.
• Up to five construction workers are killed each week due to fall injuries.
• Most of these fall-related fatalities are the result of the fact that injured workers sustained some type of severe head and brain injury due to the fall.
• Nearly 67 percent of fall injuries sustained by construction workers are related to slips and falls from ladders.
• While some fatal falls reportedly occur from heights of less than 6 feet, nearly 50 percent of all deadly falls occur from heights of 20 feet or less.

The following outlines some additional jaw-dropping fall statistics related to the construction industry:

• Nearly 75 percent of all fatal falls occur from roofs, ladders and scaffolding.
• More than 25 percent of all construction-related injuries are fall injuries.
• While falls on the same level are a major source of work injuries (but do not cause as many fatal injuries), falls from roofs and ladders (i.e., a height, rather than the same level) are a major source of fatal injuries (as opposed to non-fatal injuries).

Clearly, falling and the resulting injuries are a significant concern for the construction industry, and industry leaders should concentrate on what they can do to prevent such falls in order to protect construction workers, improve workplace safety and, ultimately, to save workers’ lives. Be sure to check out the upcoming Part 2 of this blog for safety tips that can reduce the risk of serious fall injuries at construction sites.

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you have sustained a workplace injury and are considering (or in the process of) filing a workers’ compensation claim, you cannot rely upon your employer or insurance companies to look out for your best interests. In fact, both your employer and insurance companies will be more focused on their own bottom lines instead of your current and future wellbeing. This can make the system adversarial for injured workers and potentially even put them in situations in which their legitimate workers’ compensation claims are undercut or even flat-out denied.

In such cases, it’s essential that injured workers contact the Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick. Our legal professionals are experienced at going up against corporate lawyers and insurance companies, and we have a proven track record of success when it comes to securing our Clients the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and financial losses. For a thorough evaluation of your case, along with expert advice on the best manner in which to move forward, call us at (303) 447-2644.