Accidents on construction sites are known to be one of biggest areas of concern for workplace safety and have historically had one of the highest frequencies of large workers’ compensation claims out of any other category. In fact, while claim frequency in workers’ compensation has held flat for a decade or so, claim severity – especially in construction, has been increasing for the last few years.

Read on to examine some of the top categories for construction work comp claims and what you can do to help your company avoid them.

FALLS FROM ELEVATION

At roughly 30%, falls and slips from an elevation such as ladders, scaffolding, or stairs make up the largest grouping of claims for ICW Group’s construction policyholders. Falls are also the number one cause of construction worker fatalities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. For the last decade or so, OSHA has collaborated with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Construction Sector to lead the Fall Prevention Campaign, which educates the construction industry about common fall hazards and ways to prevent them.

Here are their top recommendations to prevent falls on the job:

  • Plan Ahead for Safety: Safer outcomes are the result of better planning before the job even begins, including looking at all tasks involved and what safety equipment may be needed for each task.
  • Provide the Right Equipment: Pay careful attention to workers six feet or more above lower levels, they’re at risk for serious injury or death should they fall. Make sure they get fall protection and the right equipment for the job, including the right ladder, scaffolds, and safety gear. For roof work, provide properly fitting PFAS that are regularly inspected, and a harness for each worker who needs to tie off to the anchor.
  • Train Every Worker: Every employee should be trained in the correct setup and safe operation of the equipment they use. Employers should also educate workers on how to identify workplace hazards they may encounter as they work (see below for resources on trainings).

Our Fall Prevention Support

ICW Group’s online learning platform, Safety OnDemand® can help you keep your workplace safe and compliant with its 1000’s of safety resources like trainings, safety videos, meeting kits and more—and it’s free with your work comp policy! For fall prevention, make sure you’re registered for Safety OnDemand, then search terms like “falls” and “construction falls.” You’ll find Fall Meeting Kits (in English and Spanish), Checklists, Quick Courses, and much more!

Our ICW Group’s online Articles and Insights section also has a multitude of fall prevention research and advice, like this piece titled, What Does OSHA Say About Scaffolding in Construction, and this 8-Step Approach to Fall Protection.

STRUCK BY or AGAINST

The second largest number of construction accidents falls into the Struck by or Against Category. As defined by OSHA, “struck-by” injuries occur when a person is harmed through forceful contact or impact with an object or equipment. These incidents are particularly common in the construction industry where it is unfortunately common for workers to be struck by objects that are flying, falling, swinging, or rolling.

However, businesses can take some straightforward steps to help prevent struck-by accidents. Providing safety eyewear and hard hats, making sure workers are easy to spot, securing hazardous equipment, regularly checking tools, and limiting access to certain areas can go a long way in reducing the risk of these kinds of injuries.

ICW Group Resources

Here are a few Safety OnDemand training resources to help.

FALLS FROM THE SAME LEVEL

Same-level falls typically involve slips and trips. Although sometimes the stuff of film and TV humor, these accidents are not to be taken lightly, as they can result in serious injury including head trauma, broken bones, torn ligaments, and sometimes permanent disability.

Make sure you’re doing your best to keep your construction site safe from slips, trips and falls:

  • Keep pathways clear of potential obstacles like cords and tools
  • Clean up spills immediately
  • Designate areas for trash and scraps, don’t just “leave it where it lands”
  • Schedule daily safety checks at consistent times
  • Pay close attention to good lighting that’s not too dark or with too much glare
  • Use grip tape in high-risk areas

ICW Group Has You Covered

ICW Group has numerous training guides and resources to help keep your workers on their feet. Here are a few:

CUMULATIVE TRAUMA

This is the excessive wear and tear on tendons, muscles, and sensitive nerve tissue caused by continuous use over an extended period of time. Roughly 5% of our construction work policyholders experienced this type of injury last year. Cumulative trauma can develop from improper work positioning (awkward posture), repetitive movements, or force.

Help prevent these debilitating injuries:

  • Use hand tools with smooth, rounded edges and long handles over tools with hard edges and short handles.
  • Note your work area layout: tools, parts, and equipment should be easy to reach without excessive stretching or bending
  • Job rotation and/or reassignment along with having a variety of job duties allows use of different muscles and body parts
  • Take regular breaks to give your muscles and tendons time to heal naturally from repetitive motions and force.
  • Be sure to stretch and move around whenever you feel any pain or tingling in your neck, shoulders, arms, or hands

Our Safety OnDemand resource has multiple eLearnings and Safety Talks, available in Spanish and English, to help your employees avoid cumulative trauma injury.

Providing effective training and guidance to manage workplace injuries and illnesses should always be a top priority. Contact your ICW Group risk management consultant if you have questions about the safety and health of your employees. We are here to help and want to see your employees go home safe!