On July 10, an unnamed worker fell to his death from an Amazon fulfillment center that is under construction in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, according to the Business Insider. Police said the worker was operating a piece of equipment on an upper floor of the center but then drove the equipment out of an open window area. They are still currently investigating the incident.

1. Workplace Injuries
and Fatalities
Bryson

2. On July 10, an unnamed worker fell to his death from an Amazon fulfillment center that is under
construction in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, according to the Business Insider. Police said the worker was
operating a piece of equipment on an upper floor of the center but then drove the equipment out of
an open window area. They are still currently investigating the incident.
Common causes of accidents in construction sites
This is not the first time it has happened. According to a study conducted in 2018 by Benny Lee and
colleagues, falling from heights is one of the most common types of accident that can happen in a
construction site, followed by getting hit by objects and machinery and equipment error. The study
also noted that the major causes of such accidents are failure to enforce safety measures,
inadequate training and negligence of contractors. This negligence includes lax implementation of
safety protocols at project sites as well as failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment
(PPE) to workers.
In 2017, there were 971 construction worker fatalities in the US, according to the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration. Of these fatalities, 381 were from falls, 80 were from being struck
by equipment and 71 were from electrocutions.

3. Lee’s study noted that the greatest impact of accidents in construction sites is the delay of the
project’s completion. This causes profit loss and more expenses for the construction company.
Respondents of the study also believed that high accident risks causes low productivity and loss of
confidence from the workers.
Preventing construction accidents
Safety training for construction workers should be adequate and progressively provided, Lee’s study
proposed. It also suggested that companies establish good safety and health management, clean
working areas, conduct regular safety inspections and ensure that construction equipment and tools
are working properly.

4. Sources:
https://www.bryson.co.uk
http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1136/1/v1_2018_3.pdf
https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fulfillment-center-oak-creek-construction-worker-death-
2019-7
https://abc13.com/construction-worker-accidents-by-the-numbers-according-to-osha/5356847/