Report: Construction Worker Deaths Dropped Slightly in 2017

danger above sign

After an uptick in construction industry fatalities in 2016, a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report shows that both the amount of construction worker deaths and the rate of fatality dropped in 2017.

According to the report, there were 971 construction industry deaths in 2017, as compared to 991 in 2016.  The rate of fatality also dropped from 10.1 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers to 9.5 in 2017.

Of specific occupations with a high fatality rate, roofers and structural iron and steel workers ranked as two of the highest in 2017. There were 91 roofers that died on the job last year, which accounts for a 45.2 fatal work injury rate per 100,000 FTE workers.  14 structural iron and steel workers died in 2017, bringing their fatal work injury rate to 33.4.

Transportation incidents continue to be far and away the leading cause of workplace fatalities overall, totaling 2,077 in 2017, which was down slightly from 2,083 in 2016.  Falls, slips, and trips were the number two cause overall, accounting for 887 deaths, which was 38 more than the previous year.

Contact with objects and equipment fell 9% year over year, with 695 deaths in 2017 and 761 in 2016. Another positive note was that crane-related workplace fatalities fell to their lowest level ever recorded in the National Census of Fatal Occupational Industries report (CFOI), totaling 33 in 2017.

In the demographics category, the rate of fatal injuries was down in almost all age groups, expect for those 65 and older. Total workplace deaths for that group rose from 688 to 775 and also increase their rate from 9.6 to 10.3.

The drop in number and rate of fatalities is certainly good news for the industry, but OSHA issued a statement the day the report was released to temper any excitement, saying:

“While today’s report shows a decline in the number of workplace fatalities, the loss of even one worker is too many,” said Loren Sweatt, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “Through comprehensive enforcement and compliance assistance that includes educating job creators about their responsibilities under the law, and providing robust education opportunities to workers, OSHA is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the American workforce.”

“The scourge of opioid addiction unfortunately continues to take its toll on workers across the country, demonstrating the importance of this Administration’s efforts to tackle this crisis,” Sweatt added.  The 2017 report marked the fifth consecutive year that unintentional drug and alcohol overdoses increased, jumping 25% in 2017, after jumping another 32% in 2016.

Full report: NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2017 | BLS

Featured
hilti+exo-01+exoskeleton.jpg
Hilti Officially Releases EXO-01 Exoskeleton, Names Price

Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.

unsplash-image-sgYamIzhAhg.jpg
How to Minimize Risk on Your Construction Site

[guest post] It’s a morbid statistic, but the construction industry experiences more workplace deaths than any other. With so many potential hazards, heavy-duty machinery, and power tools, it’s perhaps not surprising that serious accidents are relatively commonplace.

balfour beatty covid-19 safety orientation video.PNG
[VIDEO] How Balfour Beatty is Handling COVID-19 Safety on the Jobsite

Even though we’re over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still threatening the health of construction’s workers and taking a toll on project timelines. It’s likely that your company has already determined the best course of action to help mitigate the risk of spreading the virus on your jobsites, but it’s never too late to learn from another contractor.

effects of pandemic on construction.png
1 Year Later: The Effects of Coronavirus on Construction

It’s been a little over a year since the coronavirus pandemic sent the entire world into a period of uncertainty, heartache, and panic. The construction industry itself has undertaken many different challenges, above and beyond keeping their people safe on the jobsite, many of which no one could have expected.

doosan transparent bucket.jpg
Doosan Announces Industry First “Transparent Bucket” to Wheel Loader to Eliminate Blind Spots

“You make a better door than a window!” is what I imagine loader operators constantly yell at the bucket in front of them (or maybe I’m just projecting based on my experience of having the habit of sitting right in front of the TV as a kid). Either way, operators may not be yelling that in the future, as equipment manufacturer, Doosan, has introduced what they claim is an industry first “transparent” bucket.

iq228 3.PNG
Cool Tools: World’s First Dry Cut 7-1/2” Portable Tile Saw

Reducing dust when cutting tile is important for many reasons (including safety and cleanliness), but wet tile saws can be a pain to use, with the slurry created spraying all around the work station and cold weather making the saw much more difficult to use outside. iQ Power Tools has a solution for that: the world’s first 7” portable dry table saw with integrated dust control.

Fall_Stand-Down_Tweets1.png
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Starts May 3

In the construction industry, falls from height are continuously the leading cause of jobsite injuries, fatalities, and, as a result, OSHA citations. From May 3-May 7, OSHA invites construction employers and stakeholders to take part in their 8th annual National Safety Stand Down to Prevent Falls in Construction.

syracuse+crane+collapse.jpg
Crane Collapses on Jobsite in Syracuse, NY, No Injuries Reported

On Tuesday morning, February 23, the Syracuse Fire Department responded to a call about a collapsed crane on a construction site near the university. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Feher ACHardhat.JPG
Finally, an Air-Conditioned Hard Hat is on the Horizon

It seems a little odd to be talking about air-conditioning when much of the United States hit some incredibly low temperatures in recent days, but a product that I learned about recently is just too exciting to ignore. Announced at CES 2021, a research company has unveiled an air-conditioned hard hat (ACHH) that can reduce the ambient temperature up to 22 degrees Fahrenheit!

7 Biggest Safety Stories 2020.png
The 7 Biggest Construction Safety Stories of 2020

2020 was a challenging year in many respects, but none greater than from a safety standpoint. The coronavirus pandemic placed the notion of “people over profits” under the microscope, while also balancing the needs of their employees to continue to make an income under difficult circumstances. While the pandemic was a large part of the construction safety conversation last year, there were several other developments to take note of for your projects in the future.