Xiuwen Sue Dong, DrPH, Xuanwen Wang, PhD, Rebecca Katz ... · Xiuwen Sue Dong, DrPH, Xuanwen Wang, PhD, Rebecca Katz, MPH, Gavin West, MPH, Jessica Bunting, MPH KEY FINDINGS •

DATA REPORTQuarterly

F I R S T Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7W W W . C P W R . C O M

Fall Injuries and Prevention in the Construction Industry

Xiuwen Sue Dong, DrPH*, Xuanwen Wang, PhD, Rebecca Katz, MPH, Gavin West, MPH, Jessica Bunting, MPH

KEY FINDINGS

• Between 2011 and 2015, the annual number of fall fatalities in construction increased by 36%, exceeding the growth in employment and total fatalities in this industry.

Falls are a common cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in the construction industry. In response to the staggering number of fall-related injuries and fatalities, the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Construction Sector Council, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), launched the National Fall Prevention Campaign on Workers’ Memorial Day in April of 2012. The campaign is now entering its sixth year. To support the national campaign and increase public awareness of the risk of falls in construction, this Quarterly Data Report provides updated data on fatal and nonfatal fall injuries among construction workers, focusing on the recent economic recovery and high-risk worker groups. In addition to data obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this report contains data illustrated in the Construction Fatality Map (CFM) maintained by CPWR — an accompanying product from the national campaign. While the BLS data show the overall trends of fall injuries at the national level, the numbers from the CFM present geographic variations. New findings from the National Safety Stand-Down, the major annual event associated with the fall prevention campaign, are also included, which confirm that the campaign is reaching all construction subsectors, including small residential construction companies nationwide.

• More than half (55%) of fall fatalities in construction occurred at a height of 20 feet or less.

• From 2014 to 2016, the National Safety Stand-Down events reached more than 5 million workers across the nation.

• Roofers had the highest rate of fall fatalities in construction; however, the number and rate of fatal falls in this occupation decreased in 2015.

• Falls from roofs comprised one-third of fall deaths, followed by falls from ladders (24%).

• Fall fatalities in residential construction increased from 26 deaths in 2011 to 61 deaths in 2015, more than double.

* Correspondence to: Xiuwen Sue Dong, [email protected].

• Hispanic workers, foreign-born workers, and workers aged 55 or older had an elevated risk of fatal falls.

2

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DATA REPORT 2

SECTION 1: TRENDS OF FATAL FALLS IN CONSTRUCTION

The U.S. construction industry is showing strong signs of recovery after being hit hard by the latest economic recession. In 2016, 10.3 million U.S. workers were employed in construction, a 16% increase after construction employment bottomed out in 2012 (chart 1). Although overall construction employment is still lower than the pre-recession level, the number of Hispanic construction workers reached 3 million in 2016, slightly surpassing its peak level in 2007 (2.98 million). Hispanic employment experienced more volatility than the overall construction workforce. Hispanic employment increased 43.9% between 2003 and 2007, plunged 37.9% during the recession, and then gained 38.5% during the recovery. In 2016, nearly 30% of construction workers identified themselves as Hispanic—a historic high.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2016 Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors.

1. Construction employment in the United States, 2003-2016 (All employment)

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First Quarter 2017

Fall Injuries and Prevention in Construction

2.1 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.7 2.8 3.0

10.110.7

11.211.7 11.8

10.9

9.79.1 9.1 8.9 9.3

9.8 9.9 10.3

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Num

ber o

f em

ploy

ees (

in m

illio

ns)

Year

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic

DATA REPORT 3

Section 1: Trends of Fatal Falls in Construction First Quarter 2017

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Coinciding with the employment trend, the number of fatalities among construction workers climbed to 985 in 2015 after dipping to 781 in 2011, a 26% increase over four years, outpacing the employment growth during the same period (chart 2). Falls remain the leading cause of work-related fatalities in construction, accounting for around one-third of the total number of fatalities in this industry.1 Although fatal falls followed the overall injury trends, fall deaths rose faster than overall deaths in construction during the economic recovery. Between 2011 and 2015, the number of fall fatalities in construction increased by 36.4% from 269 to 367, compared to a 26.1% increase in overall fatalities.

2. Number of fatalities in construction, falls and other fatalities*, 2003-2015

365 448 396 436 450337 287 267 269 294 305 363 367

1,1711,278 1,243

1,2971,239

1,016

879802 781

849 856933

985

0

300

600

900

1,200

1,500

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber o

f dea

ths

Year

FallsOther fatalities*

Revised OIICS

.

1In 2011, the definition of falls was revised in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) to include slips and trips, therefore the number of fall fatalities are not directly comparable before and after 2010. Note: * Other fatalities are fatalities from all causes except falls. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Numbers were from the online CFOI database.


DATA REPORT 4


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Fall deaths in construction are more prevalent than in other major industries (chart 3). In 2015, 367 construction workers died from falls, accounting for 45.9% of the total (800) occupational fall fatalities in all industries. There were nearly six times (367 versus 63) as many fall fatalities in construction than manufacturing, the industry with the second highest number of deaths from falls.

3. Number of fatal fall injuries by major industry, 2015 (All employment)

4

6

9

11

15

31

34

36

63

367

Finance

Mining

Information

Utilities

Wholesale

Transportation

Agriculture

Retail

Manufacturing

ConstructionNumber of deaths

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Numbers were from the online CFOI database.


DATA REPORT 5


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Between 2003 and 2015, 4,439 construction workers died from falling to a lower level, accounting for 97% of fall fatalities in construction (chart 4). Both the number and rate of fatal falls to a lower level dropped during the recession. In 2010, the rate of falls to a lower level dipped to 3 deaths per 100,000 FTEs (full-time equivalents), a historic low. By 2015, both the rate and number of fall deaths had increased, with 353 fall deaths at a rate of 3.6 fall fatalities per 100,000 FTEs. This increase may be partially explained by construction rebounding with the recent economic recovery.

4. Number and rate of fatal falls to a lower level in construction, 2003-2015 (All employment)

355

440

386425 435

329

280256 260

281 292

347 353

3.6 3.6

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Rate per 100,000 FTEs

Num

ber o

f dea

ths

Year

Number of deaths

Rate of deaths

Note: In 2011, the CFOI switched to OIICS version 2.01 which categorizes slips, trips, and falls together. In previous years, slips and trips were categorized elsewhere. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Numbers were from the online CFOI database. Employment data were from the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors.


DATA REPORT 6


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The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) began collecting information on the height of falls in 2011. Between 2011 and 2015, nearly a quarter (21.9%) of fatal falls to a lower level occurred from a height of more than 30 feet (chart 5). However, more than half of the fatal falls (55.3%) were from 20 feet or less, including over a third (38.0%) of fatal falls from 15 feet or less.

5. Fatal falls to a lower level in construction, by height of fall, sum of 2011-2015 -

5.0%

13.4%

19.6%

17.3%

13.1%

9.7%

21.9%

Total = 1,294 deaths

Less than 6 feet

6-10 feet

11-15 feet

16-20 feet

21-25 feet

26-30 feet

More than 30 feet

Note: 239 deaths without height information were excluded. Source: Numbers were obtained from the BLS through special requests. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.


DATA REPORT 7


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When stratified by the primary source of fall fatalities, falls from roofs ranked first among all major sources, comprising one-third (33%) of all fall deaths in construction from 2011 to 2015, followed by falls from ladders (24%; chart 6). Overall, falls from roofs, ladders, and scaffolds and staging2 amounted to nearly three quarters of all fall fatalities (72%).

6. Fatal falls to a lower level in construction by primary source, sum of 2011-2015

Roofs 33%

Ladders 24%

Scaffolds / staging 15%

Machinery 5%

Floors / ground surfaces 4%

Vehicles 4%

Towers / poles 2%

Other 13%

Total = 1,533 deaths

2This category includes all types of scaffolds and staging used inside or outside buildings, stadiums, or amphitheaters. Source: Numbers were obtained from the BLS through special requests. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.


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DATA REPORT 8

SECTION 2: FATAL FALLS AMONG CONSTRUCTION SUBGROUPS

The risk of fatal falls varied significantly among construction subgroups. By industry, 332 fall fatalities occurred in roofing contractors (NAICS 23816) from 2011 to 2015, marking this subsector with the highest number of fatal falls in the construction industry (chart 7). Residential building construction (NAICS 23611) experienced the next highest number of fatal falls at 225 during the five years. Although roofing contractors had the highest number of fall fatalities among all construction subsectors, the number remained relatively flat with an average of 66 fall deaths per year (chart 8). By contrast, the number of fatal falls in residential building construction reached 61 in 2015, nearly 2.5 times as high as the number of 26 in 2011.

Source: Numbers were obtained from the BLS through special requests. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.

7. Number of fatal falls to a lower level, selected construction subsectors, sum of 2011-2015

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First Quarter 2017

32

54

54

57

70

74

76

85

114

124

225

332

Finish carpentry

Structural steel & precast concrete

Drywall & insulation

Masonry contractors

Heavy & civil engineering

Plumbing, heating, & air-conditioning

Framing contractors

Electrical & other wiring installation

Nonresidential building

Painting & wall covering

Residential building

Roofing contractorsNumber of fatal falls to a lower level

8. Number of fatal falls to a lower level, selected construction subsectors, 2011-2015 (All employment)

23 2319

25 2420

25 26

34

1926

4640

52

616165 66

71 69

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber o

f dea

ths

YearNonresidential building Painting & wall coveringResidential building Roofing contractors


9

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DATA REPORT 9

Section 2: Fatal Falls Among Construction Subgroup First Quarter 2017

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By occupation, a total of 323 laborers died from fall injuries from 2011 to 2015, the largest number among all construction trades (chart 9). However, roofers had the highest risk of fatal falls, with 34.2 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs), more than 10 times the rate of all construction occupations combined (3.3 deaths per 100,000 FTEs, see chart 13). Other occupations at risk included ironworkers and power-line installers.

Similar to the trend found in roofing contractors (as an industry subsector based on NAICS), both the number and rate of fatal falls among roofers (based on occupational classifications) show signs of reduction in 2015. The number of fatal falls to a lower level among roofers decreased from 68 in 2014 to 60 in 2015, while the rate dropped from 39.9 to 31.4 deaths per 100,000 FTEs during the same time period, a 21% decrease within one year (chart 10).

Source: Numbers were obtained from the BLS through special requests. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.

9. Number and rate of work-related fatalities from falls to a lower level in construction, selected occupations, sum of 2011-2015

0.40.7

2.52.83.3

4.74.84.95.65.7

7.07.6

10.219.9

34.2

Construction managerPlumber

ElectricianHeat A/C mech

CarpenterBrickmason

LaborerDrywall

ForemanPainterHelperWelder

Power-line installerIronworker

RooferRate per 100,000 FTEs

1144

291

323

34

33165

123

17

6637

17330

1716

Number of fatalities

10. Number and rate of fatal falls to a lower level among roofers, 2011-2015

49 5262

6860

29.1

33.2

37.339.9

31.4

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

0

20

40

60

80

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Deaths per 100,000 FTEs

Num

ber o

f fat

al fa

lls

Year

NumberRate


10

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DATA REPORT 10


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Fatal falls to a lower level increased among all construction workers from 2011 to 2015. However, fall fatalities increased at a faster pace among Hispanic workers compared to non-Hispanic workers (chart 11). The number of fall deaths among Hispanic construction workers jumped from 106 in 2014 to 136 in 2015, a 28.3% increase. In contrast, the number of fall deaths among non-Hispanic construction workers dropped to 217 in 2015, a 10% decrease from 241 in 2014. Hispanic construction workers also had consistently higher rates of fatal falls than their white, non-Hispanic counterparts. Specifically, the rate of fatal falls among Hispanic workers increased from 4.0 to 4.9 deaths per 100,000 FTEs between 2014 and 2015, a more than 20% increase within one year (chart 12). However, the rate among white, non-Hispanic workers dropped from 3.4 to 3.0 deaths per 100,000 FTEs during the same time period.

Source: Numbers of fatal and nonfatal injuries were obtained from the BLS through special requests. Numbers of FTEs for rate estimates were using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors. The reviews expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.

11. Number of fatal falls to a lower level in construction, Hispanic versus non-Hispanic, 2011-2015

86 90 96 106136

174 191 196241

217260

281 292

347 353

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber o

f fat

aliti

es

Year

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic

12. Rate of fatal falls to a lower level, Hispanic versus white, non-Hispanic, 2011-2015

4.24.4

4.24.0

4.9

2.72.9 2.8

3.43.03.0

3.2 3.2

3.6 3.6

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber o

f dea

ths p

er 1

00,0

00 F

TEs

Year

Hispanic White, non-Hispanic All construction


11

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DATA REPORT 11


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In addition to Hispanic workers, foreign-born workers and workers who were self-employed in construction had an elevated risk of fatal falls compared to average rates of construction workers; each had a rate of 3.7 deaths per 100,000 FTEs (chart 13).3 By age, 28.2% of construction workers who died from falls to a lower level were between the ages of 45 and 54 years, the largest proportion among all age groups (chart 14). Conversely, while only 10.8% of fall fatalities were among workers 65 years or older, the rate of fatal falls for this age group was higher than for any other age group, with 11.6 deaths per 100,000 FTEs.

3From 2011 to 2015, the average annual number of fatal falls to lower level among white, non-Hispanics, Hispanics, black, non-Hispanics, foreign-born workers, and self-employed workers were 181, 103, 13, 106, and 81, respectively. Source: Numbers were obtained from the BLS through special requests. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.

13. Rate of fatal falls to a lower level in construction, selected characteristics, average of 2011-2015

3.0

4.3

2.9

3.7 3.73.3

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

White, non-Hispanic

Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic

Foreign-born Self-employed

All

Dea

ths

per

100,

000

FTE

s

14. Percentage and rate of fatal falls to a lower level in construction, by age group, average of 2011-2015

1.0%

4.2%

15.7%

19.9%

28.2%

20.2%

10.8%

3.0

2.0 2.2 2.63.8

4.5

11.6

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

18-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Deaths per 100,000 FTEsPe

rcen

tage

of f

atal

falls

Age group

Percentage

Rate


DATA REPORT 12

SECTION 3: FATAL FALLS ILLUSTRATED IN CPWR CONSTRUC TION

CPWR gathered public information from OSHA investigations and news reports for 1,276 work-related fatal falls that occurred in construction from 2011 to 2016. This information was disseminated via online interactive maps and downloadable datasets (http://stopconstructionfalls.com/) to increase public awareness of these deaths, and to increase access to construction fatality data for prevention purposes. These maps captured approximately three-quarters of all fatalities and two-thirds of fatal falls in the construction industry. The number of construction fatalities and fatal falls illustrated in the maps has increased since the beginning of the project (chart 15).

Source: CPWR Construction Fatality Map; Public fatality data from news reports and OSHA investigations. Calculations by the authors. *Fatalities from all causes, except falls

15. Number of work-related fatal injuries in construction featured in the CPWR fatality maps, 2011-2016

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First Quarter 2017

180 197 206 204 234 255

398 398 399 423449

460

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Num

ber o

f fat

aliti

es

Year

Fatal falls Other fatalities*

FATALITY MAPS


13DATA REPORT 13

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Section 3: Fatal Falls Illustrated in CPWR Construction Fatality Maps First Quarter 2017

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Geographically, fatal falls occurred across the entire United States with clustering in and around densely populated cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago (chart 16). Two explanations are likely to account for the observed clustering. Since some data for the fatality maps are obtained from news reports, it is possible that fatal falls in urban areas are more likely to attract media attention. Moreover, there is more construction activity in urban areas than rural areas, putting a greater number of workers in large cities at risk.

16. Fatal falls in construction shown on the CPWR construction fatality map, sum of 2011-2016, by county-level population density

Population Density by County (persons per square mile)

Fatal falls

>100,000>25,000 to 100,000>10,000 to 25,000>1,000 to 10,000>101 to 1,000≤100

Sources: 1. CPWR Construction Fatality Map; Public fatality data from news reports and OSHA investigations. 2. Population density using Census 2010 geographies from ©2013 Esri.


14DATA REPORT 14

First Quarter 2017

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In New York City, the number of fatal falls over the past six years (chart 17a) corresponds to the recent surge in residential construction activity in this city, particularly in the borough of Manhattan (chart 17b).

Source: Chart 17a - 1. CPWR Construction Fatality Map; Public fatality data from news reports and OSHA investigations. 2. Population density using Census 2010 geographies from ©2013 Esri. Chart 17b - U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey: Permits by County or Place (imputed data). Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/construction/bps/. Calculations by the authors.

Section 3: Fatal Falls Illustrated in CPWR Construction Fatality Maps

17a. Fatal falls in New York City shown on the CPWR construction fatality map, sum of 2011-2016 (51 deaths)

New York City Boroughs

The Bronx

Brooklyn

Manhattan

Queens

Staten Island

Fatal falls

17b. Number of new housing units authorized for construction in Manhattan, 2006-2015

.

8,7909,520 9,700

1,363704

2,535 2,328

4,8565,435

12,612

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber o

f hou

sing

uni

ts

Year


15DATA REPORT 15

SECTION 4: NONFATAL FALL INJURIES IN CONSTRUCTION

The trend of nonfatal fall injuries resulting in days away from work (DAFW) among construction workers mirrored employment and fall fatality trends in this industry. The number of fall injuries with DAFW increased by 21% from 2011 to 2015, after the lowest level of 18,100 in 2010 (chart 18). The rate of nonfatal falls also rose from 36.2 injuries to 40.3 injuries per 10,000 FTEs during this time period. In 2015, 23,860 nonfatal fall injuries occurred in construction, second only to retail among the major industries (chart 19).

Note: Chart 18 - In 2011, the SOII switched to OIICS version 2.01 which categorizes slips, trips, and falls together. In previous years, slips and trips were categorized elsewhere. Data cover private wage-and-salary workers. Source: Chart 18 - 2003-2015 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Chart 19 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. www.cpwr.com

First Quarter 2017

18. Number and rate of fall injuries resulting in days away from work in construction, 2003-2015

37.1 35.5 36.432.5 34.3

26.321.9

18.1 19.7 19.221.9 22.3 23.9

61.9

40.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber of injuries per 10,000 FTEsNum

ber o

f inj

urie

s (in

thou

sand

s)

Year

Number

Rate

Revised OIICS

19. Number of nonfatal fall injuries by major industry, 2015

1,210

1,360

3,930

5,290

5,380

13,670

22,910

23,510

23,860

31,220

Utilities

Mining

Information

Finance

Agriculture

Wholesale

Transportation

Manufacturing

Construction

RetailNumber of injuries


16DATA REPORT 16

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Section 4: Nonfatal Fall Injuries in Construction First Quarter 2017

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In 2015, construction laborers and carpenters, the two largest trades in construction, experienced higher numbers of nonfatal injuries from slips, trips, and falls resulting in DAFW than any other construction occupation (chart 20). However, helpers and power-line installers had exceedingly higher rates of nonfatal falls (351.6 and 129.0 per 10,000 FTEs, respectively) than other construction occupations.

20. Number and rate of nonfatal injuries from falls resulting in days away from work, selected construction occupations, 2015 (Private wage-and-salary workers)

9.014.624.327.429.629.830.232.132.138.839.250.655.163.366.281.9

129.0351.6

BrickmasonConstruction manager

WelderElectrician

PlumberCarpenter

DrywallOperating engineer

Construction laborerForeman

Truck driverPainter

Heat A/C mechanicRoofer

IronworkerSheet metal

Power-line installerHelper

Injuries per 10,000 FTEsNumber of injuries

1,880610

1,4901,050

290260

1,660

1,420

1,150

370670

3,890

100700

2301,320

190

2,140

Note: Falls include injuries from slips and trips. Source: Number of nonfatal injuries were obtained from the BLS through special requests. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors.


DATA REPORT 17

SECTION 5: FALL PREVENTION IN CONSTRUCTION

Effective fall protection is crucial in the reduction of fall injuries and death rates. OSHA requires employers to provide and install fall protection systems for an employee before that employee begins any work that necessitates the use of fall protection (OSHA, 1995). OSHA also provides criteria for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) and their use (OSHA, 1998). However, a study based on the NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program indicates that a large number of workers killed by falls in construction did not have access to PFAS when the incident occurred (Dong et al., 2017). Among the fatal falls in construction investigated by FACE programs between 2004 and 2014, 58.5% of the decedents had no PFAS present; 14.6% had PFAS, but did not use; and another 7.3% used PFAS, but the PFAS failed (chart 21).

Source: Dong XS, Largay JA, Choi SD, Wang X, Cain CT, Romano N. 2017. Fatal falls and PFAS use in the construction industry: Findings from the NIOSH FACE reports. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 102:136-143.

21. NIOSH FACE reports, fatal falls in construction, by Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) status, 1982-2014

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First Quarter 2017

7.3% 4.0% 7.3%

22.0% 25.7% 14.6%

60.6%49.1% 58.5%

10.1%21.1% 19.5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1982-1992 1993-2003 2004-2014

Perc

ent o

f fal

l fat

aliti

es

Years

Unknown

Not present

Present, not in use

Present, in use


18DATA REPORT 18

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Section 5: Fall Prevention in Construction First Quarter 2017

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As part of the National Fall Prevention campaign, the annual Safety Stand-Down brings together employers, workers, and safety associations across the country to pause work on the jobsite and focus on preventing falls through talks, demonstrations, trainings, and other activities that focus on safety (Bunting et al., 2017). From 2014 to 2016, the National Safety Stand-Down events reached over 100,000 workers in each state of California, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, and New York (chart 22). Overall, companies receiving a certificate4 reported having over 2.2 million Stand-Down participants. Including participants without certificates, it is estimated that the Safety Stand-Down events reached more than 5 million workers.

22. Number of workers reached through the National Safety Stand-Downs, by state, sum of 2014-2016

WA19,005

ID7,549

OR5,569

ND2,604

AZ32,791

CO24,078

SD310

UT10,158

WY3,204

MT1,484

NV9,370

CA287,987

ME3,558

NY102,773

AK8,264

NM10,437

HI13,469

KS17,186

NE13,536

MN57,349

OK7,955

WI13,910

TX173,055

IA3,995

MO28,001

AR9,308

IL37,503

LA86,059

MS12,088

KY16,049

AL30,793

GA157,116

SC12,478

FL89,560

NC36,379

VA367,501

WV5,853

IN49,551

OH28,626

PA54,549

MI14,897

TN15,833

NH4,435

VT2,266 MA

14,075

RI 7,554

NJ 19,715CT 14,800

DC 17,683

MD 29,588

DE 3,105

0-10,00010,001 – 25,00025,001 – 50,00050,001 – 100,000Over 100,000

GU – 1,981Virgin Islands – 95PR – 1,481

4 Some of the companies who participated in the event reported to OSHA on the number of workers reached in order to receive a certificate of participation. Source: OSHA Safety Stand-Down Certificate of Participation Database. Calculations by the authors.


19DATA REPORT 19

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Section 5: Fall Prevention in Construction First Quarter 2017

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Although a large number of Safety Stand-Down responses5 (5,230) and participants6 (960,535) were in commercial construction, workers from small residential construction companies also participated in the Stand-Down events. Moreover, the campaign reached workers beyond the construction industry. Between 2014 and 2016, 14% of responses and 11% of participants in the Stand-Down events were from non-construction industries (chart 23).

23. National Safety Stand-Down responses and participants, by type of construction, sum of 2014-2016

50%

21%

14%

6%3% 6%

Responses

Commercial construction Other constructionNon-construction GovernmentHighway Residential construction

Total = 10,497

43%

12%11%

30%

2% 2%

ParticipantsTotal = 2,229,037

5Responses are unique entries in OSHA’s certificate of participation database, which can be from a company or an individual. 6If a response comes from an individual, it is counted as one participant. If the response comes from a company with multiple participants, the number of participants is counted. Source: OSHA Safety Stand-Down Certificate of Participation Database. Calculations by the authors.


DATA REPORT 20

Conclusion

Fall injuries and fatalities increased as construction rebounded with the economic recovery. In 2015, 367 con-struction workers died from falls, a 36% increase from 2011, surpassing the growth in employment and overall fatalities in this industry. The clusters of fall fatalities shown on the CPWR Fatality Maps were consistent with the BLS data, illustrating the positive correlation of fall injuries with population density and construction activ-ity.

The increase in fall fatalities was more pronounced in residential building construction and among Hispanic workers than for the overall construction industry. This report also confirmed that fall risk exists at low heights, demonstrated by the fact that more than half of all fall fatalities (55%) between 2011 and 2015 occurred from a height of 20 feet or less. Moreover, roofers, older workers, Hispanic workers, foreign-born workers, and self-employed workers had a higher risk of fatal falls than the average among all construction workers. Nev-ertheless, fatal falls among roofers showed signs of decrease in recent years. Fall protection efforts may have contributed to this reduction.

The findings in this report emphasize the need to reduce falls and the importance of the ongoing National Fall Prevention campaign. It is estimated that the Safety Stand-Down events have reached more than 5 million workers (including those without certificates) across the nation in a three-year period, vitally raising public awareness of the risk of falls and importance of fall prevention in the construction industry. The campaign encourages construction contractors to PLAN ahead to get the job done safely, PROVIDE the right equipment to workers, and TRAIN workers to use the equipment safely.

References• Bunting, J., (2017) The National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction Final Report on the 2016

Safety Stand-Down: A follow-up report to the Final Report on the 2014 & 2015 Safety Stand-Down: A quantitative and qualitative analysis on data collected from OSHA’s Stand-Down Certificate of Participation database.

• Bunting J 2015. The National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction Final Report on the 2014 & 2015 Safety Stand-Downs: A quantitative and qualitative analysis on data collected from OSHA’s Stand-Down Certificate of Participation database.

• Dong XS, Largay JA, Choi SD, Wang X, Cain CT, Romano N. 2017. Fatal falls and PFAS use in the construction industry: Findings from the NIOSH FACE reports. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 102:136- 143.

• OSHA. 1995. Subpart M - Fall Protection: Duty to have fall protection. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10757&p_table=STANDARDS (Accessed March 2017).

• OSHA. 1998. Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment: Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10275 (Accessed March 2017).

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First Quarter 2017

DATA REPORT 21

Data Sources:

Health insurance coverage

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.• Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2015 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. • Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2016 Current Population Survey. • CPWR Construction Fatality Map, 2011-2016. • OSHA Safety Stand-Down Certificate of Participation Database, 2014-2016.

First Quarter 2017

© 2017, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved.

CPWR is the research and training arm of North America’s Building Trades Unions. Production of this document was supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.

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Please visit CPWR’s other resources to help reduce construction safety and health hazards:

Construction Solutions http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/ Construction Solutions ROI Calculator http://www.safecalc.org/ The Electronic Library of Construction OSH http://www.elcosh.org/index.php Falls Campaign http://stopconstructionfalls.com/ Hand Safety http://choosehandsafety.org/ Work Safely with Silica http://www.silica-safe.org/

About the CPWR Data Center

The CPWR Data Center is part of CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. CPWR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and training institution created by North America’s Building Trades Unions, and serves as its research arm. CPWR has focused on construction safety and health research since 1990. The Quarterly Data Reports – a series of publications analyzing construction-related data, is part of our ongoing surveillance project funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

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