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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities
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Industry Snapshot | Construction, 2016-2020 | January 2022


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.

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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]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

1,0341,0131,0381,1021,034

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

4259626657

Transportation incidents

278261273284262

Fires and explosions

11161779

Falls, slips, trips

388389340418371

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

140147175171175

Contact with objects and equipment

170139170152158

[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