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

Construction, 2015-2019

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 2019, there was an average of 7,451,476 people employed in the private sector of this industry in 830,620 establishments.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In the private construction industry during 2019, there were 200,100 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 79,700 had days away from work (DAFW), 42,000 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 78,400 had other recordable cases (ORC). The total recordable case incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 2.8.

View data

Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, construction, private industry, 2019
Case characteristic^[1]	Number of cases
Nature of injury or illness
Sprains, strains, tears	21,170
Soreness, pain	15,150
Fractures	13,190
Cuts, lacerations	8,650
Bruises, contusions	3,290
Part of body affected
Hand	11,610
Back	10,280
Knee	7,740
Multiple body parts	6,480
Shoulder	6,470
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness
Struck by object or equipment	15,830
Fall to lower level	13,770
Fall on same level	7,400
Overexertion in lifting or lowering	5,630
Caught in or compressed by object or equipment	4,100
^[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 1,102 for the construction industry during 2019, compared to 1,038 during 2018.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, construction, all United States, 2015-2019
Event or exposure^[1][2]	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Total fatal injuries (number)	985	1,034	1,013	1,038	1,102
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	32	42	59	62	66
Transportation incidents	263	278	261	273	284
Fires and explosions	17	11	16	17	7
Falls, slips, trips	367	388	389	340	418
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	139	140	147	175	171
Contact with objects and equipment	166	170	139	170	152
^[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: August 11, 2021