U.S. Construction Accident Statistics Declining

Construction sites can be very dangerous places, leading to injuries and even deaths. However, it appears that the number of work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses for construction workers have been dropping over the past few years.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracked the construction industry and the number of fatalities, injuries and illnesses. According to the Bureau, an injury or illnesses is work-related “if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing condition.”

The number of work-related fatalities in the construction industry steadily has declined from 2008. That year, the number of fatalities was 1,016. There were 879 and 802 fatalities in 2009 and 2010, respectively. By 2001, the number had dropped to 759.

The rates for construction injuries and illnesses dropped over that time period as well. The Bureau measures these rates per 100 full-time workers. The Bureau found that the number of total recordable cases was 4.7 per 100 full-time workers in 2008. That rate dropped to 4.3 in 2009, 4.0 in 2010, and 3.9 in 2011.

Taking it a step further, the Bureau considered how many cases involved days away from work or a job restriction or transfer. The Bureau determined:

• The total cases that involved days away from work was 1.7 per 100 full-time workers in 2008. Those numbers dropped to 1.6 in 2009 and 1.5 in 2010 and 2011.
• The numbers for cases involving a job transfer or restriction remained a little steadier. Those cases involved 0.7 per 100 full-time workers in 2008 and 2009. The rate dropped to 0.6 in 2010 but jumped again to 0.7 in 2011.