NIOSH Program Portfolio

Construction

Input: Occupational Safety and Health Risks

In 2011 an estimated 9.0 million workers in building, heavy, and special trades construction were at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. In 2009, construction industry workers accounted for 7% of U.S. workers, and 18% of workplace fatalities. In addition to fatal injuries, workers in these industries are at risk of injury or illness due to 'contact with objects', falls to a lower or same level, overexertion, and excessive noise.

As described in the earlier "Sector Description" section, the U.S. construction industry is divided into three major subdivisions: building construction (NAICS 23), heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 24) and special trades construction (NAICS 25) construction. In 2011 there were an estimated 6.7 million paid public and private sector construction industry workers and an additional 2.4 million self-employed construction industry workers.

Source: Employment numbers, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Current Population Survey
External Link: http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm

Source: Fatal occupational injuries, BLS, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
External Link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm

Fatalities

In 2009 construction recorded 834 fatal work injuries, the highest total among any industry sector. Workers in the occupation of construction trade (as opposed to supervisors or helpers) accounted for 621 fatalities. More specifically, the three construction trade occupations with the highest number of fatalities were construction laborers (229), carpenters (84) and electricians (84).

Source: BLS, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
External Link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm#2009

Number of fatalities in the construction industry by selected events and exposures, 2009
Construction*†	Number of selected events or exposures
	Total Fatalities	Transportation incidents	Contact with objects/equipment	Falls	Exposures to harmful substances/environments
Construction	834	213	151	283	132
Construction of buildings	154	20	24	77	22
Heavy/civil engineering construction	169	88	36	11	23
Specialty trade contractors	487	98	86	190	83

* Totals include data for industries not shown separately.
† Based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007.

Source: Fatal occupational injuries by industry and event or exposure, All United States, 2009 (453 KB, 23 pages)
External Link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cftb0241.pdf

Additional occupational fatality information can be found at the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries website
External Link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm#2009

Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses

According to the BLS annual survey of occupational injuries and illnesses, the incidence rate of injuries and illnesses in the construction private industry sector declined from 4.3 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2009 to 4.0 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010. This is higher than the 2010 rate for all private industry of 3.5 per 100 full-time workers. The rate for injuries involving days away from work (DAFW) was 1.5 per 100 full-time workers. More specifically, construction industry subsector rates for injuries involving DAFW were:

• Construction of buildings (NAICS 236): 118.5 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237): 127.0 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Specialty trade contractors (NAICS 238): 166,6 per 10,000 full-time workers

Contact with objects and equipment was the event with the highest rate of injuries resulting in DAFW in the construction industry (NAICS 23) at 49.3 per 10,000 full-time workers.

Sources:
BLS Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)
External link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/tables.htm

Detailed data on nonfatal injuries and illnesses can be found in the following websites:
BLS Industry incidence rates and counts for injuries and illnesses
External link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshsum.htm

BLS Case and Demographic Characteristics for injuries involving DAFW
External link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcdnew.htm

Occupational Injury and Illness References

NIOSH Worker Health eChartbook
The eChartbook is a descriptive epidemiologic reference on occupational morbidity and mortality in the United States. A web-based resource for agencies, organizations, employers, researchers, workers, and others who need to know about occupational injuries and illnesses, the eChartbook includes more than 8,000 figures and tables describing the magnitude, distribution, and trends of the nation's occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

• The eChartbook will continue to grow and develop to reflect the growing data and information needs of the NIOSH Program Portfolio
• Construction industry data and statistics in the eChartbook:
  

BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Program
The BLS publishes detailed information on occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities for all industry sectors.
External link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/

NIOSH Program:

Construction

Program Description
Inputs
• Sector Description
• Economic Factors
• Occupational Risks
• National Research Agenda (NORA)
• NIOSH Strategic Goals
• Partners
• NIOSH Contacts
Activities
• NIOSH Research Projects
• NIOSH Funded Research Grants
Outputs
• Publications
• Topic Pages
• Research to Practice
• Conferences
Outcomes
Review & Evaluation
• Program Review
• National Academies Evaluation