CHARLOTTE, NC — Construction workers face numerous hidden dangers on job sites across the country. According to new data from the Center for Construction Research and Training, construction workers account for nearly 20% of all fatal workplace accidents, making construction one of the most dangerous industries in the United States.

According to a study published by Carolina’s Associated General Contractors, 60% of contractors say highway construction sites are at higher risk today than they were a year ago.

Roger Richards, director of safety for construction at Sanders Utility, said he believes the danger has increased due to inattentive and drunk drivers.

“Someone is always watching, right? And as the old saying goes, ‘You are your brother’s keeper,'” Richards said.

Richards said workers have learned to look out for each other and be extra alert on the busy construction sites, as dangers lurk everywhere.

“We had people driving through when we put up our fence and everything else. We had a gate at the top and bottom, and actually some traffic came through the gate into the work zone,” Richards said.

Richards and his team work on construction sites across Charlotte and take every safety precaution possible.

“We have installed the water-filled barriers to protect us. If there were an accident or a car drove in, hopefully the water-filled barriers would protect us. Also, it’s not a solid concrete barrier, so it helps protect road users as well,” Richards said.

Richards said barriers, pylons and signs have recently been insufficient to ensure the safety of his employees.

Carolina’s AGC reports that 56% of North Carolina contractors have had at least five accidents in the past 12 months, which is higher than the national average. In this study, 24% of contractors report that a worker was killed in an accident in their work area.

“A lot of them are on their phones or distracted or eating or something like that, so they’re not fully focused on driving. When you look at that, if you’re driving 55 miles an hour and you take your eyes off the road one time, you say you’ve driven 80 feet, that’s scary,” Richards said.

Richards is working with Carolina’s AGC to encourage lawmakers to introduce legislation that improves work zone safety and requires new drivers to take work zone safety courses before receiving their license. He is also urging drivers to be more cautious when they get behind the wheel.

“Please be alert, read the warning signs, turn off your phone when driving through construction zones and be aware. We all want to go home at the end of the day,” Richards said.