Florida’s warm climate means that construction work is an ongoing process year-round. We see orange barrels on our streets and highways, scaffolding on buildings and new construction throughout the Sunshine State. However, construction work is dangerous work, and the construction agency sees its fair share of workplace fatalities.
Dangers in the construction industry
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in 2019 5,333 individuals lost their lives on the job. On average, this meant that there were approximately 15 workplace fatalities every day. Of these fatalities in calendar year 2019, 20% were in the construction industry. The following are the top 10 leading violations of OSHA standards in fiscal year 2019.
Top OSHA violations in fiscal year 2019
The following list comprises the most cited standards by OSHA in fiscal year 2019. Those in the construction industry include fall protection on construction sites; scaffolding requirements on construction sites; and ladders on construction sites. Other violations took place in the general industry.
The good news
The good news is that in 2019, workplace fatalities went down from approximately 38 fatalities a day in 1970 to 15 fatalities a day in 2019. In addition, workplace injuries and illnesses are on the downswing from 10.9 injuries or illnesses per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.8 injuries or illnesses per 100 workers in 2019. Those who were injured in the workplace in 2020 may want to work with an attorney to determine if they can seek workers’ compensation benefits.
