North Carolina construction injuries expected to grow

Experts say that they expect North Carolina’s economy will to continue to grow over the next year. When the state’s economy is healthy, the state’s construction industry is usually healthy as well.

Unfortunately, a healthy construction industry often translates into an increase in on-the-job construction worker injuries.

A recent industry publication article contained a quote from a job site supervisor who said, “I want our team members to make it home to their families each and every evening without fail, without accident, and without injury.”

Far too often, construction employers have to call families to tell them that their loved one will not be coming home that night; that he or she is in the hospital with a serious injury. Or even worse, that he or she won’t be coming home again.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that more than 20 percent of all workplace fatalities happen on construction sites. That means that on average, 20 construction workers die each week while on the job.

The non-fatal construction injury rate continues to be alarmingly high as well: three injuries per 100 workers annually.

While the injury and fatality rates are stubbornly high, they are well below where they used to be, the article points out. Back in 1970, about 38 American workers were killed per day. That dropped to 14 per day in 2016. Likewise, worker injuries were down from 10.9 per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.9 per 100 workers in 2016.

Most North Carolina workers injured on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Many of these eligible are denied, however.

Contact an experienced workers’ comp attorney to fight for the benefits you deserve and need.