Page 117 - Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook

3.2 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES

Incidents at construction sites occur through either construction errors or design defi-
ciencies. The incidents due to design deficiencies are few and far between, but nevertheless
do occur. A majority of incidents, however, are due to disregard of safety regulations,
absence of engineering oversight, poor planning, and lack of training on the part of work-
ers. Another major cause is inappropriate shortcuts taken in haste to meet completion dates.
Construction personnel often fail to determine when engineering assistance must be sought
to address construction problems relating to the means and methods of construction.
Consequently, solutions to these problems are left to construction personnel who generally
lack the engineering skills to evaluate the potential problem thoroughly. Among all the fac-
tors enumerated above, engineering investigations reveal that the disregard of safety regula-
tions emerges as the prime cause of incidents at construction sites. The forensic engineer
must therefore be familiar with the safety standards generally followed in the industry.

INJURIES AND FATALITIES IN U.S.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Construction is among the most hazardous trades in the United States. Approximately
1200 construction workers die annually. Based upon the data compiled by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, there are about 11 fatalities per
100,000 construction workers compared to about 4 fatalities per 100,000 workers in all
occupations combined. Figures 3.1 and 3.2 show the number of fatalities and the rate of
fatalities in the construction industry and in all occupations combined. Figure 3.3 indicates
the magnitude of employment in the construction industry compared with overall employ-
ment. The rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses of construction workers is compared with
that of all industries and is shown in Fig. 3.4. The rate of fatalities in construction and the
nonfatal injuries and illnesses in construction are steadily declining. From a high of
7.9 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time construction workers in 2001, the rate has
decreased to 5.4 in 2007. Information compiled by OSHA is similar, although the num-
bers vary due to information collection methods and statutory limitations.

Work related fatalities
5900 5524 5559 5764 5702 5840 5488

Construction
1225 1121 1131 1234 1186 1239 1178 All occupations

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
FIGURE 3.1 Number of fatalities. (Source: BLS CFOI Data.)