With the wet forecast in the Mid-Atlantic area this week, a Construct Connect article posing the question, “Does Precipitation Impact A State’s Construction Injury Rates?” raised some intrigue. Some of the most common causes of injury in construction include slip and fall accidents and electrocutions—both of which can have a heightened risk from rainfall. OSHA points out that wet conditions decrease the resistance that skin has to electricity and make electric shock more probable. Also, wet surfaces such as roofs, floors, and equipment can lead to higher slip and fall fatalities.
Based on data pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Southern Regional Climate Center, author Jeffrey Feldman compares the state labor fatality rate and the average annual precipitation. After isolating the number of employees in construction throughout the state from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data, a regression showed that there are some striking ties—however it’s difficult to make a solid correlation when there were data restraints making it difficult to differentiate between weather and non-weather-related fatalities.
To prevent any hiccups, SafetyPro offers a free worksheet that allows job safety assessments flexible to any type of engagement. These considerations can be tackled early on to prepare for the worst and be equipped for any situation. SafetyPro also points out that conducting regular field inspections is one of the best tools out there to improve safety across the board. Inspections can uncover safety risks caused by worn equipment, unsafe behaviors, or misplaced tools and give you a chance to correct them before they can cause an accident.
Whether your company is small or large, construction safety is a concern for all, especially during times of weather hazard. With everything at stake, a little preparation can go a long way.