Construction work remains one of the most dangerous occupations. Of the 5,333 people who died from work-related injuries in 2019, construction workers accounted for 1,061 of those deaths, the highest number of fatalities in the industry since 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Workplace safety is of paramount importance for construction companies, whose workers are regularly exposed to numerous hazards. From everpresent slip and fall risks, electrocutions, or being struck by an object or a piece of machinery, the risks construction workers face every day are not for the faint of heart. Business insurance analysis firm AdvisorSmith recently released a list of the 25 most dangerous jobs in America, and 12 of them are in construction.
In this digital age, construction site safety equipment has come a long way from reflective vests and hard hats, helping keep workers safe even in the highest-risk construction sectors. Using AdvisorSmith’s findings and U.S. Labor Department data, we take a look at the five most dangerous construction jobs and the technology being deployed to help keep them safe.
1. Roofers
Most Common Fatal Accident: Falls, Slips, Trips
Roofing work invariably involves heights, whether it’s to repair or replace roofing on residences or commercial buildings. This work invariably involves the use of ladders and walking on uneven or sloped surfaces as the work continues. Not surprisingly, falls were the most commonly cited cause of death for roofers.
Safety Technology: Drone-Based Aerial Inspections, Autonomous Shingling Drones
Crewless aerial aircraft have been gaining popularity in the roofing business. They’re inexpensive, easy to operate, and can take on much of the hazardous work roofing involves without putting workers at risk. Drones are often equipped with cameras and other equipment for inspection purposes, capturing high-resolution images that an expert roofer can review from the safety of the ground. The University of Michigan recently developed an autonomous “octocopter” equipped with a nail gun and capable of hammering asphalt shingles onto a roof. It’s not as fast as a human roofer just yet, but it’s a technology to watch as it matures.
2. Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
Most Common Fatal Accident: Transportation Incidents, Contact with Objects and Equipment
Repairing and maintaining a 30-ton piece of heavy machinery is no easy task, and mechanics spend a lot of time around (and underneath) behemoths like cranes, bulldozers, and wheel loaders. Part of their job involves inspecting every part of the equipment, running diagnostics to ensure peak performance, and replacing or repairing faulty parts.
Safety Technology: IoT Sensors, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics
Internet of Things (IoT) technology is being deployed to make preventative maintenance easier and machinery last longer. Wireless sensors are embedded in the equipment that collects data about how it’s being used and how its internal systems are functioning and transmits it to the cloud. A mechanic can view the data on a software platform or analyzed by artificial intelligence to help flag issues before they arise. This added layer of insight into the equipment’s performance helps ensure optimal operation and improved safety.
3. Crane Operators
Most Common Fatal Accident: Transportation Incidents, Contact with Objects and Equipment
Safely operating a crane is precise work, particularly in an urban setting, where there’s little margin for error. Whether they’re lifting tons of materials to an upper floor of a building under construction, or hoisting loaded shipping containers at shipyards, crane operators are subject to many dangerous conditions in their work.
Safety Technology: Automation, Computer Vision
In recent years, several companies have developed technology meant to make crane operation safer, both for the driver and people on the ground. Israeli startup INTSITE has developed the AUTOSITE100 autonomous crane system, which allows cranes to be retrofitted with autonomous technology. Using a combination of computer vision, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, fewer decisions are left to operators, and collisions are more easily avoided. Australia-based Verton Technologies developed the R-series, billed as the first remote load-management system for cranes, which automatically manages suspended loads, keeping operators out of harm’s way.
4. Mining Machine Operators
Most Common Fatal Accident: Contact with Objects and Equipment
Mining is in a class of its own when it comes to dangerous construction jobs, with mining equipment operators subject to a barrage of potential dangers. While working underground carries its own risks, operating heavy machinery to bore or blast into the earth is also inherently dangerous.
Safety Technology: Automation, Data Analytics
It’s best to help people keep their distance from potential hazards, and the technology enables just that: The fewer workers underground, the better. Autonomous mining equipment that can be controlled from aboveground has started to emerge, and it even allows operators to control multiple machines at once. The technology can also gather data about its work underground to drive better strategic decision making from above.
5. Cement Masons
Most Common Fatal Accident: Falls, Slips, Trips
Working with heavy materials is hard on the body, particularly over the course of a multi-decade career in masonry. Masons finish off stonework to ensure it looks uniform and is made to last, often using power tools or hefting cement blocks for hours on end. Overexertion is a real concern for these workers, and fatigue or injury could result in slip and fall accidents or even death.
Safety Technology: Exoskeletons
Worn on the body, much like Iron Man’s armor suit, exoskeleton suits enhance human strength while reducing the strain on muscles while lifting heavy equipment or materials. Some, like those made by Ekso Bionics, don’t even require external power sources to take the burden off workers. The company’s 9.5-pound EksoVest, which as the name suggests, is worn like a vest, gives up to 15 pounds of lift assistance per arm. This significantly eases the strain on the wearer, even for overhead work.
Great information on 5 of the most dangerous jobs in construction. Very Insightful.
This article is enticing to read. You caught my attention in this phrase – “Most Common Fatal Accident: Falls, Slips, Trips.” This really happens to any contractors unexpectedly. What’s more, if you try to DIY those jobs. Safety is the subject here.