Photo: CPWR
Silver Spring, MD — Fatal on-the-job injuries, opioid-related overdose deaths and suicides among construction workers all fell slightly in 2023 from the year prior, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training reports in a recent bulletin.
Using data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, researchers identified 982 at-work fatalities among construction workers ages 16-64 in 2023, as well as about 15,900 opioid-related overdoses and 5,100 suicides. These totals mark respective declines of 0.9%, 7% and 1.9% from the previous year.
Overall, workers ages 35-44 accounted for the highest number of fatal injuries in 2023, at 256. However, workers 65 and older had the highest rate of fatal workplace injuries – 20 per 100,000 full-time equivalent employees – followed by those 55-64 (11.1).
Other findings:
- The rate of nonfatal on-the-job injuries decreased 29.5% from 2011-2012 to 2021-2022.
- Structures and surfaces (29%) and vehicles (23.2%) were the primary causes of fatal injuries in 2023.
- Synthetic opioids contributed to 75.7% of opioid-related overdoses in 2023.
“While fatal and nonfatal injuries have their greatest effects on workers and their families, they also affect construction companies, who experience loss of productivity and financial costs,” the researchers said. “In addition, research shows that hazardous work is associated with poor mental health.”
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication