The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) — an organization dedicated to reducing occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the construction industry — recently released a Quarterly Data Report indicating a significant increase in the number of fall fatalities in construction.
According to the report, fall fatalities increased 36 percent between 2011 – 2015, exceeding the growth in construction employment and total construction fatalities.
Highlights from the report are as follows:
- More than half (55%) of fall fatalities took place at a height of 20’ or less
- One-third of fatalities were caused by falls from roofs, but the rate of fatalities for this category has been decreasing
- Twenty-four percent of fatalities were falls from ladders
- Fall fatalities in residential construction doubled during this time period
- Roofers, Hispanic workers, workers age 55 or older and foreign-born workers had a higher risk of fatal falls
Those in the construction industry are encouraged to review CPWR resources that can help build awareness of fall hazards and best practices. CPWR has a number of free infographics concerning fall prevention that can be printed and distributed to employees.
