Rise in Construction Linked to More Worksite Injuries in Washington

Shannon Weidemann

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King County, Washington is experiencing a huge boom in new construction but that has also meant a rise in worksite injuries and deaths. 14 people were killed while on the job in King County in 2006. Prior to that year the average had been about 9 deaths a year.

Construction employs about 7 percent of the nation's work force, but accidents on construction sites accounted for about 21 percent of workplace deaths, Gleason said, citing numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Better safety equipment and stronger fall-protection rules have helped, Gleason said. But, he added, "construction as a whole has always been dangerous."

Overall around the nation the number of worksite injuries has falled over the last 10 years. At worksites with fewer injuries, safety is usually a main concern of the employer.

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