In the United States, on average, construction-industry back injuries are ___% higher than back injuries reported from other industries.

• A. 10
• B. 200
• C. 50
• D. 1000

Answer: (C)

Comparing injury rates across industries and understanding what a “percent higher” difference means. Construction work involves frequent heavy lifting, manual material handling, awkward postures, and repetitive motions, often under time pressure and with limited access to mechanical aids. These conditions raise the likelihood of lower back strains. When you look at how back injuries in construction compare with those in other industries, the rate tends to be about 50% higher—roughly 1.5 times as common. The other percentages would either be too small or far too large to match the observed difference, so 50% is the best reflection of the typical gap.