According to Occupational Health & Safety magazine, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-funded Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) has released two interactive maps as part of their campaign to prevent fatal construction fall accidents. The maps respectively depict the number and locations of each fatal construction accident in the U.S. in 2011, and fatal construction fall accidents.
Fall hazards are very common in construction, and though they are preventable through training, planning, protective equipment, and reasonable behavior, these accidents still occur. According to CPWR, there were 578 construction deaths in 2011, 180 of which were the result of falls. Prior to the current recession, and when construction projects were thriving, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated 1,200 construction deaths in 2008. Unfortunately, numbers have not decreased due to increased safety, but rather, in the poor economic climate, due to a decrease in the amount of active construction projects. According to the CPWR, there were 12 fatal construction accidents in 2011 in New Jersey, including five fatal fall accidents.
There are various causes for fall accidents in construction, but generally all include the common factors of preventable unsafe work conditions caused by negligence on behalf of property owners, contractors and subcontractors
The loss or injury of a loved one in a New Jersey workplace accident may have legal recourse. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a New Jersey construction accident as the result of third-party negligence, the experienced construction accident attorneys in New Jersey at Blume Forte may help you determine the validity of your claim. To learn more, call us at 973-845-4421.