Construction fatality rate highest in 12 years

Construction had the highest number of fatalities of all industry sectors in 2023, and was the highest for the sector going back to 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.

The industry had 1,075 fatalities. Falls, slips and trips accounted for 39.2 percent, or 421, of all construction fatalities, with transportation incidents accounting for another 22.3 percent, or 240, fatalities.

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Most fatal falls—260, or 64 percent—to a lower level within construction were from a height of between 6 and 30 feet, while 67 falls were from a height of more than 30 feet. Portable ladders and stairs were the primary source of 109 fatalities in construction.

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries is a count of all fatalities resulting from workplace injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The census uses a variety of state, federal and independent data sources to identify, verify and describe fatal work injuries.

BLS reported 5,283 total fatal work injuries in the U.S. during 2023 across all industries, which was a 3.7 percent decrease from 2022.