The number of U.S. construction workers killed on the job rose 5% in 2012, according to data released by the Department of Labor.
The report by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics found construction to be the deadliest industry in the U.S., with 775 construction workers fatally injured in 2012, compared with 738 in 2011.
The most frequent cause of construction-related fatalities were worksite falls, slips and trips (280), followed by transportation incidents (216), traumatic contact with on-site objects or equipment (135), and exposure to harmful substances or environments (102).
Nearly 59% of construction workers killed in 2012 were employed by specialty trade contractors.
Across all industries, the number of work-related fatalities decreased 6.6% to 4,383 in 2012, according to the BLS report. (Business Insurance – August 22, 2013).
The attorneys at Shapiro, Cohen and Basinger, Ltd. know the dangers faced by construction workers and are committed to obtaining full and fair compensation for those injured or killed on the job site.