| A significant economic downturn has resulted in a | | | | workers should still be aware of potential safety |
| sharp decrease in demand for construction projects, | | | | hazards on the job site. There have still been many |
| both residential and commercial. Whereas real estate | | | | high profile construction accident fatalities over the |
| has been one of the most coveted commodities for | | | | past few months. Most recently, a man fell to his death |
| investors in the past, property values have declined, | | | | in Branson, Missouri while working on a construction |
| home prices have plummeted, and many newly | | | | tank at an ethanol plant. Another worker fell to his |
| constructed homes sit vacant. Contractors struggle to | | | | death while testing a potentially incorrectly assembled |
| find buyers or tenants, hoping for any source of | | | | scaffolding in Brooklyn, New York. According to a |
| income; skilled construction workers and artisan | | | | New York Times report, a section of rope |
| laborers find little work where there used to be a high | | | | disconnected, detaching the scaffolding from the fifth |
| demand. The number of new construction projects in | | | | story wall. The worker fell to a first floor terrace and |
| the United States has declined, and the jobs that come | | | | died. |
| up are highly competitive. | | | | It is often the case that construction accidents can be |
| Though there have been fewer projects for | | | | prevented by simple oversight and a conscientious |
| construction crews, there may be a silver lining for | | | | commitment to safety by all workers on the job site. |
| some in the midst of the storm. On August 20, | | | | The tragic reality, however, is that safety is often not |
| Bloomberg news reported that deaths in the | | | | the primary concern of the workers or those in |
| workplace fell to their lowest levels in 16 years, down | | | | charge. Time constraints, deadlines, and a casual |
| 10 percent in 2008. This is most likely a correlation with | | | | attitude often are contributing factors to preventable |
| the decline in dangerous jobs available in fields such as | | | | construction accidents. Workers who observe |
| commercial construction. Indeed, while deaths for | | | | potentially hazardous conditions on any job sites which |
| construction workers dropped 20 percent from 2007, | | | | they are currently working should notify their foreman |
| spending on construction projects fell 5 percent. | | | | or job site supervisor in addition to any extra |
| According to the report, transportation accidents were | | | | precautions. Vigilance regarding safety, especially in a |
| still responsible for the highest number of work-related | | | | dangerous profession such as construction, is its own |
| deaths. | | | | reward. |
| Though construction accident deaths fell in 2008, | | | | |