A reported 4,209 workers were killed on the job in 2011 alone. Of this number, a significant portion were part of the construction industry: statistics show that one in five workplace fatalities involves a construction worker. For this reason, it is imperative that construction companies and their workers are properly trained and equipped to prevent a variety of potential incidents and injuries. This can mean investing in a variety of construction safety training courses and protective gear, from crane training courses to fall protection equipment. Is your company properly prepared for an accident? Read on to find out.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), at least 1,000 construction workers suffer from work-related injuries every year. Of these injuries, the worst is undoubtedly a fall: falls are the leading cause of fatality in the construction industry, with an average of 362 of these accidents happening each year from 1995 to 1999, with all of the cases resulting in fatality. Because of statistics like these, OSHA conducts inspections on equipment and overall job safety inspections every year. The companies chosen for these inspections are random and can occur at any time.

Fortunately, due to the increasing popularity of construction safety courses and protective equipment, construction-related injuries and deaths seem to be increasing. While hard hats and steel toe boots have long been considered necessary safety gear, more construction companies are investing in crane training courses, fall arrest equipment, and other safety measures. As a result, the number of fatally injured construction workers in the United States decreased by around 200 people on average from 2008 to 2013. Additionally, the United Kingdom had only 148 construction fatalities from 2012 to 2013, an 18% decrease from the previous year.

Construction safety risks are often difficult to predict and asses because every day, every project, and every risk itself are so different from the next. However, with proper safety training and equipment, many accidents and deaths can be avoided. Keep your workers safe and be ready for an OSHA inspection: invest in safety training courses and gear today.