Small Construction Companies Seeing Upped Fatality Rates

Small companies make up a significant portion of the construction industry. It is estimated that, in 2016, around nine out of every 10 construction companies in the U.S. had less than 20 employees. And a vast majority of these small firms had less than 10 workers. So, how small construction companies act regarding worker safety matters considerably.

Unfortunately, it appears that the likelihood of worker fatalities has been going up for small construction companies here in the U.S. in recent years. According to statistics from a Center for Construction Research and Training report, the worker fatality rate for construction firms with less than 20 workers rose 57 percent between 2008 and 2016.

Meanwhile, large construction companies saw the opposite trend. Over this same period, there was an almost 30 percent drop in the fatality rate for construction companies with at least 20 workers.

Also, according to the report, over half (56.66 percent) of the construction fatalities that occurred between 2006 and 2018 involved small construction companies.

Why do you think fatalities have been trending up at small construction firms? What do you think should be done to try to bring fatality rates down in this part of the construction industry? What do you think are some of the biggest safety issues at small construction firms here in Pennsylvania?

When construction workers die on the job, there are sources of financial relief for the families of victims. For one, receiving death benefits through the workers comp system may be a possibility. Families of victims of fatal construction accidents can seek out legal guidance on such benefits claims.