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Safety in the construction industry

On Behalf of | Mar 30, 2017 | Workers' Compensation

Construction work in Virginia and the rest of the country is much safer than it used to be. However, it is still an occupation that presents serious dangers, especially when there is a high demand for construction services.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry had the highest number of work-related deaths in 2015 with 937 construction workers being killed on the job. That translated into 21.4 percent of all workers fatalities that year. The total was almost three times more than that for the manufacturing industry. It was the deadliest year for the construction industry since 2008.

A spokesperson for the Associated General Contractors of America stated that it is important that everyone remains vigilant about construction work safety. This is particularly true when construction work is thriving. A report released by the AGC stated that employment in the construction industry is at its highest level since 2008. Almost 75 percent of construction firms state that they will increase their workforce in 2017.

Because of the increased demand, qualified workers are becoming difficult to find. Many firms have resorted to hiring inexperienced workers who are just out of school or who are switching from another career. Safety professionals assert that training and education are necessary to properly protect the inexperienced workers. One firm has initiated a mentoring system that pairs new hires with experienced workers. This allows the veterans to demonstrate the importance of safety precautions and provides the new hires with an informal setting to ask questions.

An attorney could assist injured construction workers with obtaining the financial compensation they may need to recover. This could include help in preparing and filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits under the employer’s insurance coverage.