The construction industry has a reputation for danger, and many people will tell you that it is the most dangerous industry you can choose to work in. In fact, there are even those who do not consider it as a career because they have heard about these risks and are unwilling to take them.
That being said, you may be wondering why construction would be so risky and if it is actually the most dangerous industry in the United States. Does it deserve this reputation or not?
It depends on how you break down the statistics
Statistics about workplace injuries and accidents can be viewed in a few different ways. When people say that construction is the most dangerous industry, it is likely because it does have the most fatal accidents every year. The consistency here is rather astounding. Construction proves itself to be highly hazardous year in and year out, and a big part of the reason is that it is a massive industry. There are also many inherent risks within it, such as working with power tools or working at heights.
However, if you look at the rate of fatal accidents, then the size of the construction industry begins to play a role. Other industries have a much higher fatal accident rate, with examples being hunting, fishing, forestry and agricultural work. For example, deep-sea fishing is one of the most dangerous industries if you look at the rate at which people suffer serious or fatal injuries, as is logging. But both of these industries are so much smaller than construction that they don’t come close to leading to the same number of fatalities every year.
Overall, workers can be seriously injured in any industry, and that’s why it’s so important for them to know about all of their legal options.