If you work in construction, you need to familiarize yourself with the risks you face, especially when it comes to falls, trips and slips. After you fall down, you could sustain a debilitating injury that turns many facets of your life on end. Whether you have to miss work, deal with unbearable pain or struggle with medical costs that you cannot afford, fall-related accidents are often devastating in many ways.
Statistics shed light on the prevalence of these falls and serve as a reminder of how important it is for workers and employers to focus on workplace safety.
Statistics on construction falls
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that among construction workers in the private sector, falls, trips and slips made up 32% of all nonfatal workplace injuries that resulted in time off from work during 2019. Over the course of 2019, more than 25,000 construction workers had to miss work due to these injuries.
In addition, falls, trips and slips caused more construction worker fatalities in 2019 than any other type of fatal accident, and more than 400 construction workers died in these accidents.
Recovering from a construction fall
Aside from focusing on your physical recovery, you need to consider other concerns, such as your finances. If you have the ability to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, this could serve as a lifeline and assist with many facets of the recovery process, whether you need to train for a different job or get help for lost wages and medical costs. If you sustained an injury after falling down on a construction site, you need to carefully assess your options.