Construction workers are employed in one of the most dangerous industries in this country. From some perspectives, working construction comes with the greatest risk of being permanently injured or even killed while on the job. As Illinois’ renowned National Safety Council (“NSC”) explains, it all depends upon how “danger” is being defined. Construction workers need to know that their workplace is notorious for having the most workplace deaths. Read, “Most Dangerous Industries,” published as part of the NSC’s Injury Facts series.
Of note, this month a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”) detailing the latest national census of work-related deaths brought some good construction news. While a worker died “…every 104 minutes from a work-related injury in 2024…” construction workers did not rank highest in fatality rates in this latest reporting year under the BLS definitions. (That sad top ranking went to those employed in the transportation industry.) Read, Statistics, B. O. L. “National census of fatal occupational injuries in 2024.” Washington, DC: Bureau of Labor Statistics, USDL-26-0230 (2026).
Within the construction industry, certain hazards are known for causing construction worker deaths year after year, known as the “Fatal Four.” It is infuriating to have confirmation that safety regulations enacted to protect against these four deadly hazards (like falls) continue to be ignored and disrespected by those in possession, custody, and control of aspects of the construction worksite. The general fall protection regulation, for instance, has been the number one most often cited regulatory violation in this country for over a dozen years. See, Fall Protection on the Job Remains Top OSHA Safety Violation for 12th Straight Year.
Construction workers in Illinois and Indiana must be alert and aware that they are often at risk of permanent disability or death at work regardless of safety laws and common knowledge of the risks they are facing. This is particularly true for carpenters, electricians, operating engineers, pile drivers, and day laborers.
For more, read: Fatal Falls in Construction Caused by Employers Failing to Plan for Worker Safety; and Caught In-Between Hazards: One of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” Deadly Construction Accidents.
Greatest Risks of Construction Site Fatal Injury: Dangers of Deadly Accident Depend Upon the Job
While all sorts of risks come anytime someone walks onto a construction site, some worksites are riskier than others. A commercial site involving demolition will be more dangerous than a kitchen renovation of a suburban home, obviously.
Nevertheless, across all sites and all trades are known, leading causes of death that all construction workers may encounter. These “fatal four” are falls; struck-by incidents; electrocutions; and caught-in-between accidents. Protection of workers for all risks will involve (1) engineering project-specific safety considerations; followed by implementing (2) proper administrative safety controls; and providing (3) proper personal protective equipment (“PPE”).
Greatest Risks of Death for Carpenters on Construction Sites in Illinois and Indiana
For carpenters on the job, their type of work exposes them to great risks of being killed in work accidents involving falling from a height (think roofs; scaffolds; ladders). They are also in danger of dying in struck-by accidents where they are hurt by falling materials or tools. Carpenters must also be aware of the risk of death when caught-in-between things like moving heavy equipment on the job site or framework or formwork that collapses.
Protections here include carpenters being provided fall protection systems, like personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) and installed anchor points. Housekeeping needs to be properly done, even if it means constant maintenance. And there should be training regarding the specific risks that the carpenter will face on that specific job site before any work begins. Those with duties to keep carpenters safe on the job include general contractors; suppliers and manufacturers of ladders, scaffolds, and tools; and those in charge of installation and inspection of tools, machinery, and equipment on the site.
For more, read:
- Five Dangers for Carpenters to Look For on the Job: Protecting Against Carpentry Work Accidents
- Carpentry: The Dangers of Serious Work Accidents Facing Carpenters in Illinois and Indiana
- Carpenter Work Accident Dangers: Power Tool Injuries.
Greatest Fatality Risks for Electricians on Construction Sites in Illinois and Indiana
For electricians on a local construction site, the biggest risk of dying at work come from things like arc-flash events and electrocution from exposure to live current. Falls from a height are another serious risk they must encounter (think lineman atop a utility pole helping restore service in a winter storm).
To keep electricians safe, there should be things like proper and stringent lockout/tagout procedures as well as de-energizing protocols to confirm there is no live electricity exposure risk. Their PPE should be rated for the arc risk they will be facing (see NFPA 70E), and they should have properly insulated tools and equipment verified to be safe before the job starts.
Duties to protect electricians on construction sites are placed not only with utility companies and entities providing the power, but to all those specifying access safety and lockout points, and companies manufacturing, designing, repairing, or maintaining tools, equipment, and PPE.
For more, read:
- Electrician Work Accident: Worker Has Legal Responsibility to Prove Up Fault and Liability
- Electricians: Need for Reliance Upon Others to Keep Safe and Third-Party Liability Claims for Injuries on the Job
- Electrician Heroes in Illinois and Indiana: Dangers Facing Linemen on the Job in Winter Storms.
Greatest Risk of Deadly Accident for Operating Engineers on Construction Sites in Illinois and Indiana
Heavy equipment operators on a construction site face deadly risks of being fatally injured when struck by equipment or loads; caught in between equipment and structures; or being hit by vehicles in a rollover or runover accident. Operating engineers are kept safe by engineering controls like seat belt placement and enforcement of their use; daily inspections of their machinery and equipment before beginning work that day; having training in operation of the specific machine; and having checks beforehand to make sure the operating surfaces are stable and safe. Duties to keep operating engineers extend to the general contractor as well as spotters; architects and engineers who understand ground bearing and sloping risks; and manufacturers and designers of the equipment and its safety features (think guards).
For more, see:
- Work Accident Dangers for Operating Engineers in Illinois and Indiana
- Operating Engineer Work Accidents: Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Claims.
Greatest Fatality Dangers for Pile Drivers on Construction Sites in Illinois and Indiana
In our part of the country, pile drivers face the risk of death most often in a work accident involving being struck by piles, dropped loads, or failed rigging; as well as being crushed when equipment collapses or during improper rigging and handling. Safety measures to protect them include making sure people are cleared from swing paths, etc.; making sure that slings are inspected, and there are certified riggers; and that there are ground condition checks before work commences. Duties to protect pile drivers are placed upon the general contractor and the lift director alongside crane owners and operators and equipment designers and manufacturers. Architects and engineers also have a safety duty regarding ground stability where the pile driver is being asked to work.
For more, read: Pile Driver Accident Dangers in Illinois and Indiana.
Greatest Fatal Accident Hazards for Day Laborers on Construction Sites in Illinois and Indiana
Day laborers on construction sites in Indiana and Illinois have unique risks of being severely injured on the job because of a lack of familiarity with the worksite as well as possible language barriers and the lack of consistent, thorough training not only on the work itself but on safety protocols for the site overall. There should be safety measures here that include making sure the day laborer is qualified to do the work being assigned including how to use the tools, machinery, or equipment; having proper PPE; and having a buddy system in place. Not only staffing agencies but general contractors, manufacturers and designers of tools and equipment and premises owners and operators will have legal duties to keep day laborers safe from harm.
For more, read:
- Day Laborers Face Greater Risk of Severe or Fatal Work Accident
- Day Laborer Work Accident: Personal Injury Civil Claims for Damages
- Day Laborer Work Accidents and Workers’ Compensation Coverage in Illinois and Indiana.
Construction Site Work Accidents in Illinois and Indiana: Injury Claims
After any serious work accident involving a construction worker, the priority must be getting fast medical care to that injured worker and making sure dangers are removed from the site. Construction workers have a right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits as well as investigating the work accident with their own team of advocates and accident reconstruction experts to determine if there is civil law liability for what happened.
These matters are complex. Things are particularly complicated on a construction site where there are multiple employers with crews on the job when the accident happens. Who had control and authority of the site where the worker was hurt? What parties have legally imposed duties of care here? What industrial standards apply that may define duties to act reasonably and prudently to keep workers safe?
More than one third party may be liable to the construction worker for the bodily harm they suffered on the job. Each case is unique and must be investigated on its own specific circumstances.
Carpenters, electricians, pile drivers, day laborers, and operating engineers hurt in a work accident may have civil claims for damages to pursue side-by-side with filing for workers’ compensation benefits.
For more, read: Damages are Different: Workers Compensation vs. Third Party Personal Injury Claims and Are There Civil Claims for Damages Against Third-Parties for Your Work Accident?
Construction work is very dangerous and tragedy can strike in an instant. Safety laws and regulations exist to keep workers safe but these are often ignored or disrespected. Please be careful out there!
