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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Construction laborers, 2016-2020


Background

Construction laborers and helpers perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.

As of May 2020, there were 971,330 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $20.67, and the average annual wage was $43,000.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for construction laborers, there were 16,590 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 207.1.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, construction laborers, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

4,290

All other natures

3,230

Soreness, pain

2,830

Fractures

2,580

Cuts, lacerations

2,040

Part of body affected

Hand

2,630

Back

1,850

Foot

1,580

Shoulder

1,370

Knee

1,220

Source of injury or illness

Parts and materials

4,240

All other sources

3,270

Handtools

1,560

Worker motion or position

1,410

Vehicles

1,390

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Struck by object or equipment

3,600

Fall to lower level

2,050

Fall on same level

1,410

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

1,370

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

1,350

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, 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 308 for construction laborers during 2020, compared to 293 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, construction laborers, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

254259259293308

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

17161515--

Transportation incidents

5269477375

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

8985839896

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

2734384960

Contact with objects and equipment

6454745565

[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

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 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: February 11, 2022