A decrease in consumer spending on homes has led to a reduction in demand for new construction projects. Contractors, once overwhelmed with demands for new homes and developments of suburbs, now struggle to find buyers or tenants for empty homes, hoping for any source of income after their work. Skilled construction workers and artisan laborers find little work where there used to be a a wide selection of projects and jobs on which to work. Real estate and home prices have all taken a hit in this tough economic climate. Once the favored investment, these no longer hold the draw they held in years past. Though the market is good for those interested in buying, few people have been courageous enough to take this risk.
Though there have been fewer projects for construction crews, there may be a silver lining for some in the midst of the storm. On August 20, Bloomberg news reported that deaths in the workplace fell to their lowest levels in 16 years, down 10 percent in 2008. This is most likely a correlation with the decline in dangerous jobs available in fields such as commercial construction. Indeed, while deaths for construction workers dropped 20 percent from 2007, spending on construction projects fell 5 percent. According to the report, transportation accidents were still responsible for the highest number of work-related deaths.
Though construction accident deaths fell in 2008, workers should still be aware of potential safety hazards on the job site. There have still been many high profile construction accident fatalities over the past few months. Most recently, a man fell to his death in Branson, Missouri while working on a construction tank at an ethanol plant. Another worker fell to his death while testing a potentially incorrectly assembled scaffolding in Brooklyn, New York. According to a New York Times report, the scaffolding fell when a section of rope disconnected from a the fifth story wall. The worker fell to a first floor terrace and died.
It is often the case that construction accidents can be prevented by simple oversight and a conscientious commitment to safety by all workers on the job site. The tragic reality, however, is that safety is often not the primary concern of the workers or those in charge. Time constraints, deadlines, and a casual attitude often are contributing factors to preventable construction accidents. Workers who observe potentially hazardous conditions on any job sites which they are currently working should notify their foreman or job site supervisor in addition to any extra precautions. Vigilance regarding safety, especially in a dangerous profession such as construction, is its own reward.
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