Supplement
Falls are one of leading causes of death among construction workers. In 2004, 1,224 construction workers died on the job, with 36 percent or 440 of those fatalities resulting from falls. Most falls are caused by uneven working surfaces, misuse of fall protection equipment, and human error. Studies have shown that the use of guardrails, fall arrest systems, covers, and controlled access zones can prevent many of these deaths and injuries.