Imagine a preventable accident claiming nearly 400 lives in a single year: in 2022, falls were the leading cause of death in construction, a stark reminder of the critical importance of safety on every job site.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, falls to a lower level were the leading cause of death in construction, accounting for 382 fatalities out of 1,069 total construction deaths, representing 35.7% of all construction fatalities
- From 2011 to 2022, falls caused 5,931 construction worker deaths in the US, averaging 494 deaths per year
- In private construction industry, falls represented 36.5% of fatal work injuries in 2021, with 410 deaths from falls
- In 2021, construction falls caused 410 deaths, with 115 from roofs
- BLS reported 48,000 nonfatal fall injuries in construction in 2022
- From 2011-2018, 1.2 million nonfatal fall injuries in construction
- Unprotected edges caused 25% of nonfatal fall injuries 2011-2015
- Lack of fall protection involved in 74% of rooftop fall fatalities 2011-2019
- Improper ladder use cited in 43% of ladder fall incidents
- In California, ladder defects/misuse in 35% of falls 2018-2022
- Hispanic or Latino workers accounted for 45% of construction fall fatalities (2011-2020 average 220/year)
- Workers aged 45-54 had highest fall fatality rate in construction: 5.2 per 100,000 (2021)
- Fall fatalities declined 30% for ages 25-34 from 2011-2021
- Construction fall deaths rose 25% from 2019 to 2022 (298 to 382)
- Northeast US had highest construction fall rate 5.1 per 100,000 (2021)
Falls remain the number one killer in the construction industry year after year.
Causal Factors
- Unprotected edges caused 25% of nonfatal fall injuries 2011-2015
- Lack of fall protection involved in 74% of rooftop fall fatalities 2011-2019
- Improper ladder use cited in 43% of ladder fall incidents
- Scaffolding failures due to inadequate bracing in 24% of collapse cases
- Working near unprotected sides/edges caused 38% of leading edge falls
- Slippery surfaces contributed to 15% of same-level falls in construction
- Inadequate training linked to 29% of scaffold-related falls
- Ladder setup errors (angle, footing) in 81% of ladder fall fatalities
- No harness use in 90% of fatal roof falls over 25 feet
- Weather conditions (rain, ice) factor in 12% of construction falls
- Hoist or collapse of floor/ceiling in 8% of multi-story falls
- Drugs/alcohol involved in 20% of construction fall fatalities
- Poor housekeeping (debris) caused 18% of trips leading to falls
- Defective equipment (ladders, scaffolds) in 22% of incidents
- Fatigue from long hours factor in 25% of fall accidents
- Inadequate guardrails on scaffolds in 65% of fall cases
- Working without spotters near edges in 35% of roof falls
- Overreaching from ladders caused 27% of ladder falls
- Unstable surfaces under ladders in 19% of incidents
- No toeboards on scaffolds led to 10% of tool drops causing falls
- Speed/ rushing on job site in 30% of fall-related citations
- Inadequate planking on scaffolds in 15% of failures
- Holes not covered properly caused 12% of floor opening falls
- Harness not anchored correctly in 40% of PFAS failures
- Inexperienced workers (under 25) in 22% of fall incidents
- Night work lighting issues in 8% of falls
- In New York construction, 42% of falls due to lack of protection
- In Texas, improper scaffold assembly in 28% of fall cases 2016-2020
Causal Factors Interpretation
Reading these grim statistics is like scanning a tragic how-to guide on ignoring the most basic rules of self-preservation, where an overwhelming majority of fatal falls are not random acts of God but entirely predictable failures in human judgment, training, and equipment, proving that the construction industry's deadliest foe isn't gravity—it's complacency.
Demographic Breakdowns
- In California, ladder defects/misuse in 35% of falls 2018-2022
- Hispanic or Latino workers accounted for 45% of construction fall fatalities (2011-2020 average 220/year)
- Workers aged 45-54 had highest fall fatality rate in construction: 5.2 per 100,000 (2021)
- Male construction workers: 98% of fall fatalities (2022)
- Young workers (16-24) represented 15% of nonfatal fall injuries despite 12% workforce share
- Self-employed construction workers had 2x higher fall death rate than employees (2016-2020)
- Nonunion construction workers 30% higher fall injury rate than union (2015 data)
- Immigrant workers 25% of construction workforce but 39% of fall deaths (2011-2015)
- Carpenters experienced 12% of all construction fall fatalities (2021)
- Roofers had fall fatality rate of 51.0 per 100,000 FTE, highest occupation (2021)
- Ironworkers: 28.7 fall deaths per 100,000 (2011-2020 avg)
- Painters fall injury rate 35 per 10,000, 1.5x industry avg
- Black workers 8% of construction falls vs 6% workforce
- Workers over 55: 20% of fall fatalities but 16% workforce (2022)
- Electrical power installers: 3rd highest fall rate 22.4 per 100,000
- Women in construction: 3% workforce but 1% fall fatalities due to lower exposure
- Apprentices 2.5x higher fall injury rate than journeymen
- In NY, 60% of fall victims Hispanic (2011-2020)
- Texas construction falls: 50% Hispanic workers affected (2016-2020)
- CA construction: Asian workers 10% falls despite 5% workforce
- Structural iron/steel workers: 40 fall fatalities 2017-2021
- Drywall installers highest nonfatal fall rate 45.2 per 10,000
- Operating engineers: 18% of heavy equipment related falls
- In construction, foreign-born workers 2x fall fatality rate of native-born
- Laborers/Helpers: 25% share of construction fall injuries
- Sheet metal workers fall rate 30 per 10,000 FTE
- In Midwest states, older workers (55+) 25% of falls
- Construction supervisors lower fall rate 10 per 10,000 vs laborers 40
- In South region, Hispanic share of falls 55% (2021)
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
While the data paints a grim and varied picture—from faulty ladders and perilous roofs to disproportionate impacts on Hispanic, immigrant, and older workers—it ultimately reveals a construction industry where the gravest risks are systematically assigned to the most vulnerable and least protected segments of its workforce.
Fatality Statistics
- In 2022, falls to a lower level were the leading cause of death in construction, accounting for 382 fatalities out of 1,069 total construction deaths, representing 35.7% of all construction fatalities
- From 2011 to 2022, falls caused 5,931 construction worker deaths in the US, averaging 494 deaths per year
- In private construction industry, falls represented 36.5% of fatal work injuries in 2021, with 410 deaths from falls
- Construction falls fatalities increased by 11% from 2020 to 2021, from 368 to 410 deaths
- In 2020, 38.5% of construction fatalities (368 out of 955) were due to falls
- Roof falls accounted for 1,137 construction deaths from 2011-2018
- Ladders were involved in 81 construction fall deaths annually on average from 2011-2018
- Scaffolds contributed to 4,380 construction fatalities from 2003-2013, averaging 398 per year
- In 2019, falls caused 366 construction deaths, 33.4% of total sector fatalities
- From 2003-2020, 33% of all construction fatalities (over 6,000) were from falls
- In 2021, 1 in every 10,000 full-time construction workers died from falls, rate of 10.0 per 100,000
- Hispanic construction workers had 189 fall deaths in 2021, 46% of total construction fall fatalities
- From 2015-2019, 1,056 fall deaths occurred from roofs in construction
- Scaffolding falls killed 59 workers in 2021, up from 43 in 2020
- In New York construction, 25% of 148 fatalities from 2011-2015 were falls
- Fall fatality rate in construction was 3.9 per 100,000 FTE in 2022
- From 1980-1996, falls were 22% of construction deaths, totaling 3,645
- In 2016, 324 construction fall deaths, 50 from ladders
- Elevated falls (over 6 feet) caused 90% of construction fall deaths in 2022
- From 2011-2020, 4,600+ construction workers died from falls
- In 2018, falls to lower level killed 320 construction workers
- Construction fall deaths peaked at 423 in 2007
- In Texas, 112 construction fall deaths from 2011-2015
- Fall from roof caused 1 in 5 construction deaths 2011-2016
- 69% of construction fall fatalities from 2011-2018 were from roofs, ladders, scaffolds
- In 2023 preliminary data, 400+ construction fall deaths estimated
- Fall rate per 100,000 in construction was 4.5 in 2017
- From 2009-2018, 1,066 roof fall deaths in construction
- Ladder falls: 243 deaths in construction 2011-2015
- In California, 185 construction fall deaths 2013-2017
Fatality Statistics Interpretation
The grim and stubborn truth is that for over two decades, gravity has remained construction's most ruthless and predictable foreman, claiming a worker's life nearly every single day.
Non-Fatal Injury Statistics
- In 2021, construction falls caused 410 deaths, with 115 from roofs
- BLS reported 48,000 nonfatal fall injuries in construction in 2022
- From 2011-2018, 1.2 million nonfatal fall injuries in construction
- In 2021, 37,000 construction workers suffered days away from work due to falls
- Falls accounted for 65% of nonfatal construction injuries requiring hospitalization 2015-2019
- Average cost of a construction fall injury was $42,000 in medical and indemnity 2020
- 300,000 falls annually in construction requiring emergency room visits
- In 2020, falls caused 46.2% of construction SOII cases with days away
- Roof-related nonfatal falls: 36,000 cases per year average 2011-2016
- Ladder falls led to 20,000 nonfatal injuries annually in construction
- Scaffolding nonfatal falls: 4,500 cases per year 2003-2013
- 75% of construction nonfatal falls result in fractures or sprains
- In 2019, 38,110 nonfatal fall injuries in construction, rate 25.4 per 10,000 FTE
- Hispanic workers had 15,000 fall-related nonfatal injuries in construction 2021
- Falls from heights over 6 feet caused 80% of serious nonfatal injuries
- Average days away from work per fall injury: 23 days in construction 2022
- In New York, 12,000 nonfatal fall injuries in construction 2011-2020
- Construction fall injury rate was 27.1 per 10,000 workers in 2021
- 50% of nonfatal construction falls occur on same level surfaces
- From 2016-2020, 200,000 fall injuries with fractures in construction
- Scaffolds involved in 2,300 nonfatal injuries per year average
- In 2018, 34,200 construction workers missed work due to falls
- Fall injuries cost construction industry $2.5 billion annually in workers comp
- 40% of construction nonfatal falls from ladders result in serious injury
- Elevated fall nonfatal cases: 28,000 in 2022
- In Texas construction, 8,500 nonfatal fall injuries 2016-2020
- Roof edge falls nonfatal: 15% of all construction fall injuries
- 60% of nonfatal falls in construction under 10 feet height
- In California, 22% of nonfatal injuries (falls) in construction 2022
Non-Fatal Injury Statistics Interpretation
Despite the construction industry's impressive ability to reach new heights, its stubborn refusal to adequately address fall prevention ensures a grim, costly, and entirely preventable parade of injuries and deaths year after year.
Temporal and Regional Trends
- Fall fatalities declined 30% for ages 25-34 from 2011-2021
- Construction fall deaths rose 25% from 2019 to 2022 (298 to 382)
- Northeast US had highest construction fall rate 5.1 per 100,000 (2021)
- Fall injury rates in construction dropped 20% from 2003-2013 due to OSHA
- Roof fall fatalities increased 40% in summer months avg
- California reported 1,200 construction falls 2018-2022, highest state
- National fall fatality rate fell from 5.8 (2003) to 3.9 (2022) per 100k
- Florida construction falls: 350 incidents 2016-2020, high due to hurricanes
- Post-2008 recession, fall rates increased 15% as workforce inexperienced grew
- Ladder fall injuries peaked in 2015, declined 10% by 2021
- South region: 40% of national construction fall deaths (2022)
- During COVID-2020, construction falls down 15% due to less work
- NY fall rates halved from 6.2 (2011) to 3.1 (2021) per 100k
- Texas saw 20% rise in falls 2019-2022
- Scaffold incidents declined 50% 1992-2012 with standards
- Fall protection violations top OSHA citation, 7,000/year avg 2018-2022
- Midwest fall rates stable at 4.0 per 100k 2017-2022
- Winter months see 25% fewer falls due to less outdoor work
- West region nonfatal falls 28% of national total (2021)
- From 2011-2021, construction fall share of total fatalities steady at 35%
- Kentucky highest state fall rate 7.2 per 100k construction (2021)
- Fall injuries decreased 12% nationally 2020-2022 post-pandemic recovery
- Roofing falls trend up 15% since 2015 in hot climates
- OSHA campaigns reduced falls 30% in targeted states 2010-2020
- Urban areas 2x fall rates vs rural construction sites
Temporal and Regional Trends Interpretation
Construction safety presents a contradictory tapestry of progress and peril, where targeted regulations have saved lives in some demographics and regions, even as dangerous trends stubbornly persist in others.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 2OSHAosha.govVisit source
- Reference 3CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 4CPWRcpwr.comVisit source
- Reference 5LABORlabor.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 6IMCA-INTimca-int.comVisit source
- Reference 7TDItdi.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 8DIRdir.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 9NSCnsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 10DOSdos.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 11MYFLORIDACFOImyfloridacfoi.comVisit source
- Reference 12ROOFINGCONTRACTORroofingcontractor.comVisit source