1. Introduction
In the past decade, construction worker safety has become a major concern of the United States construction industry. This is due in part to the high costs associated with construction worker injuries, including the costs of workers’ compensation insurance, the indirect costs of injuries, the increased chance of liability suits, and also the rise in criminal prosecutions of employers who allow work in unsafe conditions. While many construction parties might ultimately bear a portion of these costs, the responsibility has primarily been placed on the employer, typically the general contractor.