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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities > Publications > Snapshots

Construction, 2016-2020

Background

The construction sector is comprised of establishments engaged in the construction of buildings, engineering projects (i.e. highways and utility systems), and the preparation of sites for new construction.

As of 2020, there was an average of 7,203,279 people employed in the private sector of this industry in 847,018 establishments.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In the private construction industry during 2020, there were 174,100 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 74,500 had days away from work (DAFW), 31,900 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 67,600 had other recordable cases (ORC). The total recordable case incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 2.5.

View data

Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, construction, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic^[1]	Number of cases
Nature of injury or illness
Sprains, strains, tears	20,640
Soreness, pain	14,190
Fractures	9,710
Cuts, lacerations	7,780
Bruises, contusions	3,470
Part of body affected
Back	10,450
Hand	9,760
Knee	6,340
Multiple body parts	6,150
Body systems	5,640
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness
Struck by object or equipment	13,640
Fall to lower level	10,790
Fall on same level	7,010
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	6,580
Overexertion in lifting or lowering	6,310
^[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 1,034 for the construction industry during 2020, compared to 1,102 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, construction, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure^[1][2]	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Total fatal injuries (number)	1,034	1,013	1,038	1,102	1,034
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	42	59	62	66	57
Transportation incidents	278	261	273	284	262
Fires and explosions	11	16	17	7	9
Falls, slips, trips	388	389	340	418	371
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	140	147	175	171	175
Contact with objects and equipment	170	139	170	152	158
^[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories. ^[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Employment data come from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

Last Modified Date: January 5, 2022