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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Construction laborers, 2015‐2019


Background

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

As of May 2019, there were 1,020,350 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage is $20.06 and the average annual wage is $41,730.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for this occupation, there were 19,790 nonfatal injury and illness cases requiring days away from work during 2019. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 231.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, construction laborers, private industry, 2019
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

5,220

Soreness, pain

3,550

Fractures

3,330

All other natures

2,870

Cuts, lacerations

2,390

Part of body affected

Hand

3,590

Back

2,850

Foot

1,780

Shoulder

1,650

Knee

1,410

Source of injury or illness

Parts and materials

5,100

All other sources

3,300

Handtools

2,600

Worker motion or position

2,160

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

1,600

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Struck by object or equipment

5,000

Fall to lower level

1,860

Fall on same level

1,840

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

1,610

Caught in or compressed by object or equipment

1,420

[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 293 for construction laborers during 2019, compared to 259 during 2018.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, construction laborers, all United States, 2015-2019
Event or exposure[1][2]20152016201720182019

Total fatal injuries (number)

235254259259293

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

--17161515

Transportation incidents

5152694773

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

9089858398

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

2227343849

Contact with objects and equipment

6664547455

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines.

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories. For more information visit: https://www.bls.gov/iif/overview/cfoi.htm.

[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.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) 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 and CFOI program concepts and definitions see the SOII Handbook of Methods and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: January 22, 2021