A new report from CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training shows the number of fatal falls to a lower level among construction workers jumped more than 50% from 2011 to 2022, according to Safety+Health magazine.
Analyzing 12 years of data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, CPWR researchers identified 397 fatal falls to a lower level in 2022—a 52.7% increase from 2011. The rate of fatal falls rose 13.3% during that time to 3.4 per 100,000 full-time employees.
CPWR also found 70% of the fatal falls occurred within companies with 10 or fewer employees; most of the fatal falls happened between 10 a.m. and 12:59 p.m.; and based on North American Industry Classification System codes, roofing contractors experienced the most fatal falls—100—in 2022, and residential building construction was the next highest NAICS code with 63 fatal falls.
Read more about safety in the roofing industry in Professional Roofing’s February column, “How safe are we, really?”
Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Learn how to reduce roofing-related injuries and deaths with NRCA’s safety classes, webinars and publications.
