Construction continues to be one of the most hazardous industries, with recent data showing the sector marked its deadliest year in over a decade. In 2023, 1,075 workplace fatalities were recorded, marking the construction industry's highest death toll since 2011, according to federal data analyzed by Construction Dive. The industry maintained a fatal work injury rate of 9.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, consistent with previous years. Falls, slips, and trips were the leading cause of fatalities, accounting for 421 deaths, or 39.2% of the total.
Construction is hazardous work, and employers know it. Leaders in the industry have sought to find new ways to record, understand and prevent serious injuries and fatalities, as researchers study methods to improve personal protective equipment in case disaster strikes. Read more