Numbers down at annual safety conference
MARQUETTE -- It's been a tough few years for many in the construction industry, and those economic struggles may now be translating to on-site safety.
The 10th annual Upper Peninsula Construction Safety Training was held Thursday in Marquette. Organizers say attendance is down, and they believe that's linked to the economy.
Last year, despite the decrease in work available, there were eleven fatalities at Michigan construction sites. Most of those fatalities were a result of a fall, the leading cause of death at construction sites.
"A lot of people call them 'accidents.' I call them incidents because most, if not all, are preventable," says Doug Kalinowski, Director of MIOSHA. "They're either in a hurry or not paying attention."
Organizers say site safety is boosted by proper training, like Thursday's conference.
Six safety lessons were offered in classrooms about a variety of topics.
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