A deep drive into workers' comp and artisan contractors

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. ("AmTrust"), a global specialty property and casualty insurer, recently released the AmTrust 2021 Contractor Risk Report. Based on 26,000 workers' comp claims over ten years, the report identified common injuries, days away from work, the effects of warm weather, the age of the company, and other factors for artisan contractors. Artisan contractors include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors, and more.

Key findings include:

• Contractors in business for less than four years account for 75 percent of claims
• New employees (less than one year on the job) pose the greatest injury risk, representing 33 percent of claims. This gradually decreases until workers reach their sixth year, which represents 29 percent of claims
• Ladder falls and lifting strains are the most common type of injury
• Plumbers have the most injuries, accounting for 28 percent of claims. 34 percent are strains and 20 percent are falls. Electricians are next, with 19 percent of claims, 31 percent are falls and 27 percent strains
• The median age of workers experiencing an injury was 44. The report suggests this is older than expected because younger workers are not entering these fields as frequently as in the past
• Injuries that top the list for median days away from work include falls, burns, and abrasions. Scaffolding or ladder-related falls result in 34 days, stairs 27 days, and liquid or grease 26 days. While burns are not that common (9th on list), they result in 19 days away from work. Gas lines, open flames, welding tools, chemical exposure, and electrical wires can all pose a danger to contractors
• Repetitive motion strains cause twice as many lost days (23) than other strains/ injuries
• Cuts result in a median of 14 days away from work
• States with warmer climates make up most of historical losses partly because contractors can work outdoors year-round, but environmental issues such as heat and smog increase comp claims in warmer months are also factors. Arizona and Florida had the most claims
• There were twice as many claims in August as there were in December
• The top five body parts affected were lower back, knee, shoulder, finger(s), and multiple body parts

While the results are not unexpected given the nature of the work, they serve as a reminder that more can be done to protect workers in construction. Regularly conducting risk assessments, reviewing safety protocols, and revising them as necessary is key to preventing injuries.