6 Hardest Jobs on a Construction Site

In 2015, 388 workers in California died on the job. This equates to more than one fatality every day of the year. Among all the industries monitored by the California Department of Industrial Relations and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction remains one of the most dangerous. Hazardous workplace conditions plague numerous fields today, but few more so than building sites.

According to statistics, construction accident deaths in California increased by an alarming 34 percent in 2015 – a year that would claim the highest death rate for construction in more than a decade. Reports for 2016 paint an even grimmer picture for those employed in the state’s construction industry, with five fatal injuries attributed to falls and 13 caused by contact with heavy equipment.

Falls from heights are the number one cause of construction-related deaths in the nation, accounting for nearly a quarter of all fatalities. How high is considered deadly? Data shows an 8.2 percent death rate in workers who fall from platforms that are only 6-feet tall, and this rate increases steadily the higher the elevation.

Construction’s hardest & most dangerous jobs

Figures collected by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health underscore the occupational hazards facing construction workers.

Which construction jobs are the hardest and most dangerous?

1. Roofers — 47.4 deaths per 100,000 workers
2. Iron & Steel Workers — 25.2 deaths per 100,000 workers
3. First-line supervisors – 17.9 deaths per 100,000 workers
4. Construction laborers – 16.9 deaths per 100,000 workers
5. Painters – 10.8 deaths per 100,000 workers
6. Electricians — 10.4 deaths per 100,000 workers

These jobs are not only physically demanding, requiring endurance and dynamic strength, they put workers in hazardous environments where falls, crush injuries and other catastrophic harm are not uncommon.

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs and structural framework remain the biggest risks for construction workers. Other dangers include accidents with heavy machinery and tools, getting struck by objects, burns and electrocution, as well as trench cave-ins.

By law, all construction site owners and supervisors are required to provide reasonable protection for the health, safety and lives of their employees. Those that breach this duty of care may face legal liability in the event of a personal injury or worker fatality.

Construction accident lawyers California trusts

Ellis Injury Law is an award-winning personal injury law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. If you or a loved one were harmed on a job site because of inadequate training, lack of safety equipment or negligence, each Los Angeles construction accident attorney at our practice will fight hard to protect your rights.

To arrange a free case evaluation in any one of our 20 California office locations, please call 310-641-3335.

Additional “Hardest Construction Jobs” Resources:

1. EHS Today, Dying at Work in California: 388 Workers Didn’t Come Home http://www.ehstoday.com/construction/dying-work-california-388-workers-didn-t-come-home
2. CA Dept. of Industrial Relations, Fatal occupational injuries by major industry and event or exposure, California, 2016 http://www.dir.ca.gov/OPRL/CFOI/cfoi_2016/cfoi2016-A1.pdf