Approximately seven out of every 100 full-time construction workers were non-fatally injured or became ill on the job during 2002, according to recently released information from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the BLS survey, workers in the roofing, siding and sheet metal sector experienced the most days off of work, with an average of 10 percent reporting injuries or occupational illnesses. Plumbers, and those who install heating and air conditioning units reported the second highest number of injuries in the construction industry, with nine out of 10 reporting problems. However, out of both sectors, about five out of 10 missed work because of an injury.
Painters and workers who hang wallpaper, along with operative builders, experienced the least number of workdays missed. Approximately 1.5 percent of operative builders couldn’t work due to injury or illness, and 2.7 percent of painters reported to miss work.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the most fatal injuries in construction occur most often with workers who fall from roofs or tall scaffolding, and those who install electrical wires and components. Serious injuries also usually come from falls or electrical exposure.
