Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among ......Fatal injuries at road construction sites, by...
Transcript of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among ......Fatal injuries at road construction sites, by...
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DATA REPORT
QuarterlyS E C O N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 8
W W W . C P W R . C O M
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among Construction Workers
CPWR Data Center: Xuanwen Wang, PhD, Rebecca Katz, MPH, Xiuwen Sue Dong, DrPH*
KEY FINDINGS
• From 2003 to 2016, 1,269construction workers died atroad construction sites,accounting for approximately9% of all constructionfatalities each year.
Working at road construction sites can be dangerous. Between 2011
and 2015, 609 workers lost their lives at road work zones#, an average of 122 workers annually (BLS, 2017). This Quarterly Data Report
examines the trends and patterns of fatal occupational injuries among
construction workers at road construction sites over time, with special
emphasis on the period after the recent economic recovery. Fatality
numbers were obtained from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
(CFOI), and the employment data were from the Current Population
Survey (CPS). Since neither the CPS nor other data sources provide employment data specifically for road construction work, employment data from the entire construction industry were used as the denominators
in rate calculations. Therefore, the estimated rates may not fully represent
the risk in road construction sites. Stratified and time series analyses were conducted to identify differences among subgroups in construction over time. This report also provides related information
on injury prevention at road construction sites selected from a variety of
sources, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and CPWR.
• Between 2011 and 2016, 532construction workers werekilled at road constructionsites, more than double thetotal for all other industriescombined.
• More than 70% of roadconstruction site fatalitiesoccurred in the Highway,Street, and Bridgesubsector.
• The number of roadconstruction site fatalitiesclimbed to 103 in 2016 froma low level of 72 deaths in2013, a more than 40%increase over three years.
• About half of roadconstruction site fatalitieswere due to being struck bya vehicle or mobileequipment.
* Correspondence to: Xiuwen Sue Dong, [email protected].
• Construction workers whoworked as crossing guardsand paving/surfacingoperators at roadconstruction sites had thehighest risk of fatal injuries.
# These work zones include construction, maintenance, or utility work on a road, street, or highway.
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DATA REPORT 2
Second Quarter 2018
SECTION 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Construction employment continues to grow. In 2016, 10.3 million U.S. workers were employed in construction,
4% more than in 2015 and a 16% increase after construction employment bottomed out in 2012 (chart 1).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2016 Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors.
1. Construction employment in the United States, 2003-2016
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10.110.7
11.211.7 11.8
10.9
9.79.1 9.1 8.9
9.39.8 9.9
10.3
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Nu
mb
er o
f em
plo
yee
s (i
n m
illi
on
s)
Year
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
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DATA REPORT 3
Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
1,171
1,2781,243
1,2971,239
1,016
879802 781
849 856908
985 1,03411.7
10.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Rate
per 1
00
,00
0 F
TE
s
Nu
mb
er
of
death
s
Year
All fatalities Rate
2. Number and rate of fatalities in construction, 2003-2016
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2016 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Numbers were from
the online CFOI database. Employment data were from the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the
authors.
Coinciding with the employment trend, the number of fatalities among all construction workers climbed to 1,034
in 2016, 49 more deaths (or 5% higher) than in 2015, and a 32% increase since 2011, outpacing employment
growth during the same period (chart 2). The rate of fatalities in construction also increased 11%, from 9.0 deaths
in 2011 to 10.0 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers (FTEs) in 2016.
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DATA REPORT 4
Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018
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Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
23
9
9
10
13
15
22
42
77
532
Other
Retail
Public administration
Utilities
Manufacturing
Wholesale
Professional services
Admin. supp. & waste manage
Transportation
Construction
Number of deaths
3. Fatal injuries at road construction sites, by major industry, 2011-2016 total
1Analysis of data from the 2012 Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) annual input-output table and related data
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that 68% of the jobs created by investing in infrastructure
are in the construction sector, 10% in the manufacturing sector, and 6% in retail trade. See National Economic
Council, 2014, page 8 (cited in the reference section) for more information.
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI micro
data. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS. Employment data were from the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the authors.
The construction industry experiences a larger burden of deaths at road construction sites than any other major
industry. From 2011 to 2016, 532 construction workers were killed at road construction sites, more than twice as
many fatalities as all other industries combined (chart 3). The number of fatalities among construction workers at
road construction sites fluctuated year to year. The death number reached 105 in 2012, the highest since 2006, which could partially correspond to government investments in transportation infrastructure around that period1 (The
Hamilton Project, 2011; Brookings Institution, 2015; National Economic Council, 2014). After a low of 72 deaths
in 2013, it climbed to 103 deaths in 2016, a more than 40% increase over three years (chart 4). Between 2003 and
2016, 1,269 construction workers died at road construction sites, accounting for approximately 9% of all construction
fatalities each year. The rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites also fell and rose during the economic
recession and recovery. However, the real risk at road construction sites may be underestimated because the exact
number of construction workers working on such sites is unknown.
9992
123
106
8075
89
73
83
105
72
8287
103
1.0
1.2
1.0
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Rate p
er 10
0,0
00
FT
Es
Nu
mb
er o
f d
eath
s
Year
Road construction sites Rate
Revised
OIICS
4. Number and rate of fatalities at road construction sites, 2003-2016
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DATA REPORT 5
Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018
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Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
* This group includes pedestrians and other non-occupants of vehicles who were struck by vehicles or other
mobile equipment in normal operation regardless of location.
# This group includes injuries to vehicle occupants which occurred on roadways.
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI micro
data. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
In terms of event or exposure, the most common cause of road construction deaths between 2011 and 2016 was
pedestrian vehicular incidents where a worker (non-occupant of vehicle) was struck by a vehicle or mobile
equipment (50.2%; chart 5). The next most common cause (13.2%) was roadway incidents that occurred while
a worker was operating a vehicle. Of the 267 pedestrian vehicular incidents, 61.4% were due to a worker (non-
occupant of vehicle) being struck by a forward-moving vehicle in the work zone, followed by being struck by a
vehicle backing up in the work zone (24.7%; chart 6).
50.2%
13.2%
10.0%
7.9%
3.9%
1.9%
13.0%
Pedestrian vehicular incident *
Roadway incidents involving
motorized vehicle #
Struck by object/equip.
Fall to lower level
Electrocution
Caught in/compressed by
object/equip.
Other
% of deaths (n = 532)
5. Fatal injuries at road construction sites, by event or exposure, sum of 2011-2016
61.4%
24.7%
9.4%
4.5%
Struck by forward-
moving vehicle in work
zone
Struck by vehicle
backing up in work zone
Struck by vehicle
propelled by another
vehicle in work zone
Other
6. Fatal pedestrian vehicular incidents at road construction sites, by subcategory,
sum of 2011-2016
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DATA REPORT 6
Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI micro
data. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
When stratified by the primary source of fatalities, trucks were the top source of deaths at road construction sites, involved in nearly one-quarter (22%) of such incidents (chart 7). Multi-purpose highway vehicles (such as pick-
up trucks and SUVs) were the second most common source, causing 17.3% of construction fatalities at those
sites, followed by passenger vehicles (including automobiles, buses, and passenger vans). Among 117 truck-
related road construction site fatalities, nearly half (47.0%) were caused by dump trucks, followed by semi-
tractor-trailers and tank trucks (22.2%; chart 8).
22.0%
17.3%
16.9%
13.9%
3.9%
3.0%
3.0%
2.6%
2.3%
2.3%
1.7%
1.7%
9.4%
Trucks
Multi-purpose highway vehicles
Passenger vehicles
Constr. logging, mining mach.
Confined spaces
Bridges, dams, locks
Other persons, plants, animals, and minerals
Elevators, hoists, aerial lifts
Building materials—solid elements
Cranes
Electric parts
Other vehicle
Other
% of deaths (n = 532)
7. Fatal injuries at road construction sites, by primary source, 2011-2016 total
47.0%
22.2%
13.7%
8.5%
4.3%4.3%
Total = 117 deathsDump truck
Semi, tractor-trailer,
tanker truck
Truck—motorized
freight hauling and
utility
Boom truck, bucket or
basket hoist truck
Delivery truck or van
Other
8. Fatalities at road construction sites caused by trucks, by primary source,
sum of 2011-2016
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DATA REPORT 7
Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Note: Self-employed workers were excluded.
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI micro
data. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
Compared to all construction fatalities, fatal injuries at road construction sites were more likely to occur in larger
establishments, suggesting large construction companies are more likely to be involved in road construction
projects. Nearly one in three (31.3%) road construction site fatalities occurred in establishments with 100 or
more employees, more than double the percentage of all construction fatalities at such establishments (13.6%,
chart 9).
20.3%
9.7%
17.4%
10.8%
31.3%
10.4%
Road construction sites
(n=517)
1-10 employees 11-19 employees 20-49 employees
50-99 employees 100+ employees Not reported
39.5%
10.0%12.2%
7.4%
13.6%
17.3%
All fatalities
(n=4,351)
9. Fatal injuries in construction by establishment size, road construction sites versus
all fatalities, sum of 2011-2016
(Wage-and-salary workers)
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DATA REPORT 8
Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI micro
data. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
Fatalities at road construction sites were more likely to occur between June and October than other months. Fatal
injuries at road construction sites during these five months accounted for more than half (55%) of all such fatalities (chart 10). In terms of time of incident, road construction site fatalities tend to happen during the
morning and early afternoon. About one in five (19.9%) fatal injuries at road construction sites occurred between 10:00 and 11:59 am, the most common of all time frames, and another 19.1% happened between 12:00 and 13:59
pm (chart 11).
5.8%
3.8%
7.5% 7.5%8.1%
12.2%
10.5%
9.6%10.0%
12.8%
7.5%
4.7%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Per
cen
t o
f d
eath
s
Month of incident
10. Percentage of fatal injuries at road construction sites, by month of incident,
sum of 2011-2016
3.1%4.1%
2.7%
5.4%
14.9%
19.9%19.1%
14.5%
7.5%
2.5% 2.5%3.9%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
0:00-
1:59
am
2:00-
3:59
am
4:00-
5:59
am
6:00-
7:59
am
8:00-
9:59
am
10:00-
11:59
am
12:00-
1:59
pm
2:00-
3:59
pm
4:00-
5:59
pm
6:00-
7:59
pm
8:00-
9:59
pm
10:00-
11:59
pm
Per
cen
t o
f d
eath
s
Time of incident
11. Percentage of fatal injuries at road construction sites, by time of incident,
sum of 2011-2016
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DATA REPORT 9
Second Quarter 2018
SECTION 2: Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among Construction Subgroups
The risk of fatal injuries at road construction sites varied significantly among construction subgroups. By industry subsector, 371 workers in the Highway, Street, and Bridge subsector (NAICS 2373) were killed at road
construction sites between 2011 and 2016, accounting for 72% of all road construction fatalities during these
years (chart 12). Although the number of fatalities at road construction sites in this subsector fluctuated between 2003 and 2016, the overall trend is downward (see the trend line; chart 13).
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI
micro data. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS. www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
6
6
11
15
33
59
371
Poured Concrete Foundation
Plumbing, Heating and A/C
Painting and Wall Covering
Electrical Contractors
Site Preparation
Utility System
Highway, Street, and Bridge
Number of deaths
12. Fatal injuries at road construction sites, selected construction subsectors,
sum of 2011-2016
73 75
96
89
6459
66
57 55
84
51 53
6662
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Nu
mb
er o
f fa
tali
ties
Year
Deaths Linear (Deaths)
13. Number of fatal injuries at road construction sites in Highway, Street,
Bridge subsector, 2003-2016
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DATA REPORT 10
Section 2: Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among
Construction Subgroups
Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
By occupation, a total of 179 construction laborers died at road construction sites from 2011 to 2016, the largest
number among all construction trades (chart 9). However, crossing guards2 had the highest risk of such fatalities,
with 40.9 deaths per 100,000 FTEs, more than 40 times the rate at road construction sites for all construction
occupations combined (0.9 deaths per 100,000 FTEs, see chart 19). Paving/surfacing equipment operators and
highway maintenance workers had the second and third highest risk of such fatalities, respectively.
0.1
0.3
0.4
0.5
1.6
1.8
1.8
1.9
2.1
3.9
5.5
11.6
13.6
21.8
40.9
Carpenter
Electrician
Painter
Plumber
Cement mason
Truck Driver
Op. Engineer
Foreman
Laborer
Dredge/Excavating operator
Crane tower operator
Power-line installer
Highway maint
Paving*
Crossing guard
Rate per 100,000 FTEs
22
22
71
31
15
68
179
7
9
12
14
5
18
7
8
Number of fatalities
14. Number and rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites, selected occupations,
sum of 2011-2016
2 Crossing guards (Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 33-9091) in this report work in the construction industry. According to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), the tasks for crossing
guards include: direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic as necessary; guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites; monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets; communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults; direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals. Note: Paving=Paving/surfacing equip. operator
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI
micro data. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the
authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
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DATA REPORT 11
Section 2: Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among
Construction Subgroups
Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Both the number and rate of road construction site fatalities among construction laborers increased tremendously
during the economic recovery. The number of construction laborers that were fatally injured at road construction
sites nearly doubled from 22 in 2013 to 43 in 2016. The rate increased 63% from 1.6 to 2.6 deaths per 100,000
FTEs during the same time period (chart 15).
3338
3125
36
2825
32
22
29 28
43
2.4 2.5
1.91.7
3.2
2.6
2.3
2.6
1.6
1.9 1.8
2.6
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Death
s per 1
00,0
00 F
TE
s
Num
ber
of
dea
ths
Year
Number
Rate
15. Number and rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites among construction
laborers, 2005-2016
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI
micro data. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the
authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
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DATA REPORT 12
Section 2: Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among
Construction Subgroups
Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Similar to the trend found among construction laborers, both the number and rate of deaths at road construction
sites among crossing guards rose during the economic recovery. The number of deaths among construction
workers working as crossing guards at road construction sites increased from 8 between 2008 and 20103 to 13
between 2014 and 2016. The rate more than doubled, jumping from 27.0 to 59.1 deaths per 100,000 FTEs during
the same time period (chart 16).
11
89
13
33.4
27.0 28.4
59.1
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2005-2007 2008-2010 2011-2013 2014-2016
Death
s per 1
00,0
00 F
TE
s
Num
ber
of
death
s
Year
Number Rate
16. Number and rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites among crossing guards,
2005-2016
3Death numbers in individual years were too small to meet BLS publication criteria. Four time periods were
generated in these charts to account for the economic cycle.
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI
micro data. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the
authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
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DATA REPORT 13
Section 2: Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among
Construction Subgroups
Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Although the number of paving/surfacing equipment operators that died at road construction sites decreased
from 13 between 2008 and 2010 to 10 between 2014 and 2016, the rate stayed stable from 22.9 to 23.0 deaths
per 100,000 FTEs during the same time period (chart 17).
25
13 1210
33.3
22.920.8
23.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2005-2007 2008-2010 2011-2013 2014-2016
Death
s per 1
00
,00
0 F
TE
s
Num
ber
of
dea
ths
Year
Number Rate
17. Number and rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites among paving/sur-
facing equipment operators, 2005-2016
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI
micro data. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the
authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
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DATA REPORT 14
Section 2: Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among
Construction Subgroups
Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
Both the number and rate of road construction deaths among highway maintenance workers experienced a
notable increase during the economic recovery. The number of highway maintenance workers that were killed at
road construction sites increased from 18 between 2008 and 2010 to 31 between 2014 and 2016, a 72% increase,
and the rate increased at a similar pace from 6.6 to 11.7 deaths per 100,000 FTEs during the same time period
(chart 18).
2118
40
31
7.6
6.6
15.6
11.7
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2005-2007 2008-2010 2011-2013 2014-2016
Death
s per 1
00
,00
0 F
TE
sN
um
ber
of
death
s
Number Rate
18. Number and rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites among highway
maintenance workers, 2005-2016
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI
micro data. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the
authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
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DATA REPORT 15
Section 2: Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites among
Construction Subgroups
Second Quarter 2018
www.cpwr.com
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
African-American workers had an elevated risk of road construction site fatalities. This might be because these
workers are more likely to be employed in the public sector4 and involved in road construction projects (chart
19). Similarly, wage-and-salary workers had a higher risk of fatalities than self-employed workers on road
construction sites. By age, 28.8% of construction workers who died at road construction sites were between the
ages of 45 and 54 years, the largest proportion among all age groups (chart 20). Conversely, while less than 6%
of fatalities at road construction sites were among workers 65 years or older, the rate of such deaths for this age
group was higher than for any other age group, with 1.64 deaths per 100,000 FTEs.
4More than 8% of African American construction workers were employed in the public sector, which was
double the proportion in the overall construction workforce (Source: CPS 2011-2016. Calculations by the
CPWR Data Center).
Source: Fatal injury data were generated by the CPWR Data Center with restricted access to BLS CFOI
micro data. Numbers of FTEs were estimated using the Current Population Survey. Calculations by the
authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
0.920.80
2.40
0.75
1.00
0.11
1.20
0.94
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
White,
non-
Hispanic
Hispanic African
American
Foreign-
born
Native Self-
employed
Wage-
and-salary
workers
All
Dea
ths
per
10
0,0
00
FT
Es
19. Rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites, selected worker characteristics,
average of 2011-2016
1.3%
6.2%
18.3%
21.5%
28.8%
18.3%
5.6%
0.930.84
0.730.81
1.10 1.13
1.64
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
16-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Death
s per 1
00
,00
0 F
TE
s
Per
cen
tag
e o
f d
eath
s
Age group
Percentage
Rate
20. Percentage and rate of fatal injuries at road construction sites, by age group,
average of 2011-2016
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DATA REPORT 16
Second Quarter 2018
SECTION 3: Prevention in Construction
Injuries and fatalities at road construction sites are preventable. Many solutions can be implemented to prevent
such injuries and fatalities among construction workers (Table 1).
Table 1: Solutions to Prevent Injuries at Road Construction Sites
www.cpwr.com
Solution Specific solutions
Increased visibility • Require workers to wear high-visibility safety apparel, including fluorescent, brightly colored, and
reflective apparel, vests with strobes, and illumination rings for hard hats1a,1b,3
• Employ work zone lighting, glare-free if possible1c,2
• Increase taper length3
• Install low-level transition lighting at the beginning and end of road work area to allow motorists to
adjust to changing lighting conditions3
• Increase visibility of barriers with bright colored paint, reflectors, and lights3
• Ensure work signage is lighted and visible3
Positive barriers between workers
and traffic• Use temporary longitudinal barriers, including concrete or movable
1d,1e,3
• Use other temporary traffic control devices such as traffic cones and barrels1f,3
• Use truck-mounted attenuators1g
Warning systems for drivers • Set up intrusion alarm systems3
• Lay temporary rumble strips1h
• Use warning lights2
• Portable changeable message signs, used in conjunction with traffic queue detection equipment, to
provide drivers with real-time information2,3
• Use dynamic speed display sign2
Warning systems for workers • Use sensors, handheld radios, and intrusion alarm systems3
• Have an object detection and camera system for heavy equipment1i
• Use self-adjusting and directional backup alarms1j
Speed reduction systems • Enforce speed reduction with police presence and radar guns,3
• Ticket and fine violators3
• Apply speed reductions incrementally to maintain uniform traffic flow3
Impact attenuators • Use crash cushions1k
• Use truck-mounted attenuators1g
Engineering controls • Use automated flagging assistant devices1l
• Close the road, close the side of the road with work, or reroute traffic whenever possible3
Separate workers on foot from
equipment
• Use flexible colored poles or temporary pavement markings to delineate pedestrian-free areas within
the work zone3
• Train workers and equipment operators to communicate with hand signals3
Raise awareness • Participation in National Work Zone Awareness Week and Turning Point2
• Distribute site-specific safety materials to all visitors and employees in the activity area3
• Ensure truck drivers and equipment operators are aware of internal traffic control plans3
• Train all workers on the internal traffic control plan3
• Hold daily toolbox meetings to discuss and report hazards, close-calls, and safety considerations for
the day’s tasks3
Equipment safety and rollover
prevention• Use equipment with rollover protective structures and seat belts
3
• Only allow trained and authorized workers to handle equipment3
• Require the use of parking brakes and chocks when equipment is unattended3
• Install light strips on trucks for visibility, and use low-level lighting so that operators can see workers3
• Regularly inspect and maintain equipment3
• Use edge guards on trailers3
Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites
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Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites DATA REPORT 17
Conclusion
The construction industry experiences a large burden of deaths at road construction sites. From 2011 to 2016,
532 construction workers were killed at road construction sites, more than double the total for all other industries
combined. Deaths due to being struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment were the most common type of occupational
fatality at road construction sites, while trucks were the top source of such incidents. Construction workers who
worked as crossing guards and paving/surfacing operators at road construction sites had the highest risk of fatal
injuries. Wage-and-salary workers, older workers, and African-American workers also experienced an elevated risk
of such fatalities.
The increase in fatalities at road construction sites reported here emphasizes the importance of road construction
safety (Eseonu et al, 2018). A high quality transportation network is vital to a top performing economy, and
construction workers are necessary for road building, maintenance, and preservation (National Economic
Council, 2014). As the highway infrastructure in this country ages, rebuilding and improving existing roadways
will be more frequent than before (American Society of Civil Engineers, 2017). To prevent injuries and fatalities
at road construction sites, OSHA and NIOSH offer safety training materials and intervention information for
workers and employers (OSHA, 2017; NIOSH, 2017). Intervention methods and solutions are also available at
the CPWR Construction Solution Database, NIOSH Motor Vehicle Safety at Work, FHWA, and the National
Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.
References
• American Society of Civil Engineers. 2017. https://www.asce.org/
• The Brookings Institution. 2015. Racing ahead or falling behind? 6 economic facts about transportation infrastructure in the United States, https://www.brookings.edu/research/racing-ahead-or-falling-behind-6- economic-facts-about-transportation-infrastructure-in-the-united-states/ (Accessed June 2018).
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 2017. The Economics Daily, Fatal injuries at road work zones. http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2017/fatal-injuries-at-road-work-zones.htm (Accessed June 2018).
• Eseonu C, Gambatese J, Nnaji C. 2018. CPWR Small Study, Reducing highway construction fatalities through improved adoption of safety technologies, https://www.cpwr.com/publications/reducing-highway- construction-fatalities-through-improved-adoption-safety-technologies (Accessed June 2018).
• The Hamilton Project. 2011. Policy Proposal, Public-private partnerships to revamp U.S. infrastructure, http://www.hamiltonproject.org/papers/public-private_partnerships_to_revamp_u.s._infrastructure (Accessed June 2018).
• The National Economic Council and the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. 2014. An economic analysis of transportation infrastructure investment, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/ files/docs/economic_analysis_of_transportation_investments.pdf (Accessed June 2018).
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 2017. Highway work zone safety, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/highwayworkzones/ (Accessed June 2018).
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 2017. Highway work zones and signs, signals, and barricades, https://www.osha.gov/doc/highway_workzones (Accessed June 2018).
www.cpwr.com
Second Quarter 2018
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Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites DATA REPORT 18
Data Sources
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2016 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-2016 Current Population Survey.
Supplement: Sources of Table 1 (accessed June 2018)
1. Construction Solutions Database. Solution Summary.
a. High-visibility safety apparel. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/822/high- visibility-safety-apparel.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d
b. Illumination ring for hard hats. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/933/illu mination-ring-for-hard-hats.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d c. Work zone lighting. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/875/work-zone-lighting. html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d d. Temporary longitudinal barriers. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/975/ temporary-longitudinal-barriers.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d e. Movable longitudinal barriers. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/967/mov able-longitudinal-barriers.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d f. Temporary traffic control devices. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/974/ temporary-traffic-control-devices.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d g. Truck-mounted attenuator. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/977/truck- mounted-attenuator.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d
h. Rumble strips. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/976/rumble-strips. html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d
i. Object detection and camera system for heavy equipment. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolu tions.org/solution/932/object-detection-and-camera-system-for-heavy-equipment.html?sess_ id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d
j. Self-adjusting and directional backup alarms. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solu tion/792/self-adjusting-and-directional-backup-alarms.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49d b5cb375f834d
k. Crash cushion. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/solution/983/crash-cushion. html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49db5cb375f834d
www.cpwr.com
Second Quarter 2018
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Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites DATA REPORT 19
Supplement: Sources of Table 1 (accessed June 2018) continued
l. Automated flagging assistant devices (AFAD). http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/ solution/934/automated-flagging-assistant-devices-afad.html?sess_id=2d0623f3ebb67810c49 db5cb375f834d
m. Building information modeling (BIM) for safety planning. http://www.cpwrconstructionsolu tions.org/structural_steel/solution/931/building-information-modeling-bim-for-safety-planing.
html
2. Eseonu C, Gambatese J, Nnaji C. 2018. CPWR Small Study, Reducing highway construction fatalities
through improved adoption of safety technologies, https://www.cpwr.com/publications/reducing-high
way-construction-fatalities-through-improved-adoption-safety-technologies
3. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2001. Building safer highway work zones: Measures to
prevent worker injuries from vehicles and equipment, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-128/
pdfs/2001-128.pdf
www.cpwr.com
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Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites DATA REPORT 20
©2018, CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved.
CPWR is the research and training arm of NABTU. Production of this Quarterly Data Report was
supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the official views of NIOSH.
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Please visit CPWR’s other resources to help reduce construction safety and health hazards:
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Construction Solutions ROI Calculator http://www.safecalc.org/
The Electronic Library of Construction OSH http://www.elcosh.org/index.php
Falls Campaign http://stopconstructionfalls.com/
Hand Safety http://choosehandsafety.org/
Work Safely with Silica http://www.silica-safe.org/
About the CPWR Data Center
The CPWR Data Center is part of CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.
CPWR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and training institution created by NABTU, and serves as its research arm. CPWR has focused on construction safety and health research since 1990. The Quarterly Data Reports, a
series of publications analyzing construction-related data, is part of our ongoing surveillance project funded by
the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Second Quarter 2018