On December 19, 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) for 2023. The data shows an overall decrease in worker fatalities from 2022. In 2023, 5,283 fatalities were reported, which is a 3.7% decrease. However, the construction industry saw an increase in the number of workplace fatalities from 1,069 in 2022 to 1,075 in 2023. The following were the leading categories for fatalities in the construction industry:
- Falls, Slips, Trips: 421 (39.2%)
- Transportation Incidents: 240 (22.3%)
- Exposure to Harmful Substances, Environments: 200 (18.6%)
- Contact Incidents: 148 (13.8%)
The 1,075 fatalities in the construction industry represents the highest total since 2011. Most notably, falls to a lower level within construction were from a height between 6 and 30 feet resulting in 260 fatalities, while falls from portable ladders and stairs were the primary source of 109 fatalities.
For more information, please contact Kevin Cannon or Nazia Shah.