Construction trades worker fatalities rise in 2017

There were 43 fewer workplace fatalities in 2017 than the previous year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2017 (CFOI) report released Dec. 18. The fatal injury rate also decreased from 3.6 percent in 2016 to 3.5 percent in 2017.

“While today’s report shows a decline in the number of workplace fatalities, the loss of even one worker is too many,” Acting Assistant Secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Loren Sweatt says. “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.”

In addition to the decline in overall fatalities, crane-related workplace fatalities and fatal occupational injuries in the private manufacturing industry and wholesale trade industries reached their lowest points since the CFOI started in 1992.

Despite the overall decline in fatalities, deaths caused by drug overdoses continue to climb. The number of unintentional overdoses due to the nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol while at work increased by 25 percent—the fifth consecutive year overdose deaths rose by at least 25 percent.

“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 says.

Among workers in the construction and extraction industries, the overall number of deaths dipped from 970 in 2016 to 965 in 2017 (a reduction in fatal incident rate from 12.4 to 12.2 percent). As part of this total, supervisors of construction and extraction professional saw a decrease in the total number of deaths from 134 to 121 (a reduction in fatal incident rate from 18.0 to 17.4 percent); construction trades workers saw an increase in fatalities from 736 to 747; and extraction workers total number of deaths stayed consistent at 41 year over year.

Employers who need assistance in meeting their safety obligations can take advantage of OSHA’s no-cost and confidential On-Site Consultation Program. OSHA Training Institute Education Centers (OTIs) also provide training to workers, employers and other safety professionals across the nation.