If you work in the construction industry, you need to watch out for various hazards on the job. Workers in various trades find themselves seriously hurt and even killed when things go wrong, and accidents occur for a host of reasons. Unfortunately, many construction accidents are preventable and only take place as a result of carelessness, such as ignoring OSHA standards.
It is helpful for workers and employers to review statistics on OSHA violations in order to understand how prevalent these violations are and some of the most common violations.
Reviewing the most common OSHA violations
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the most common OSHA violation during the fiscal year 2020 involved fall protection. Other common violations involved hazard communication, scaffolding and ladders, respiratory protection and controlling hazardous energy. Machine guarding, face and eye protection and inadequate training were other major areas of concern.
The impact of OSHA violations
When a construction company fails to abide by OSHA regulations, they threaten the safety of workers. In 2019, more than 5,300 workers lost their lives in workplace accidents. Moreover, construction fatalities accounted for roughly 20% of all private sector work-related deaths over the course of 2019.
Even when a construction accident does not prove fatal, an injured worker could face multiple hardships as they try to move forward. From debilitating pain to medical costs and lost wages resulting from missing work, the physical and financial toll of a construction accident is often devastating. Make sure you explore all of your options if you are struggling to piece your life together after a job-related accident.