What is the Most Dangerous Construction Trade? 

 

The question is more difficult than you might expect at first glance. The trade experiencing the largest number of fatalities is not necessarily the one where a worker is at greatest risk of a fatal accident. And when you start to consider workers who suffer terrible but nonfatal injuries or occupational illnesses caused by long exposure to hazardous conditions, the picture gets even more complicated. A review of CPWR's new edition of The Construction Chart Book  will shed more light on the subject.  

 

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration provides detailed information on some 1,000 occupations, which includes exposure to workplace hazards.

• Its O*NET program reports that elevator installers and mechanics work at heights virtually every day, putting them at risk for a fall daily.
• O*NET also reports that drywall and ceiling tile installers and structural iron and steel workers spend a lot of time working at heights too -- and that these trades demand almost as much skill at keeping and regaining balance  as dancers and athletes.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics' CFOI program reports that ironworkers, like roofers, are among the trades most at risk for fatal falls.
• The CPWR Data Center calculates that of all the trades, the ironworker is most likely to experience a fatal accident in the course of his or her career.
• Laborers, who often work on foot around heavy equipment and moving vehicles, account for the lion's share of fatal "struck-by" accidents involving vehicles and equipment.
• Power-line installers, not surprisingly, face the highest risk of electrocution.
• The SOII, another BLS survey, reported that sheet metal workers were considerably more likely than ironworkers to lose workdays due to a nonfatal injury from 2008-2010.

 

The bottom line? Some construction trades, like roofing and structural ironwork, are notoriously dangerous. But most trades entail considerable exposure to particular dangers. It would be well worth your time to dig into The Construction Chart Book and check the latest figures on your trade and sector.