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DATA REPORT Quarterly SECOND QUARTER 2018 WWW.CPWR.COM 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, 1,269 construction workers died at road construction sites, accounting for approximately 9% of all construction fatalities 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, 532 construction workers were killed at road construction sites, more than double the total for all other industries combined. More than 70% of road construction site fatalities occurred in the Highway, Street, and Bridge subsector. The number of road construction site fatalities climbed to 103 in 2016 from a low level of 72 deaths in 2013, a more than 40% increase over three years. About half of road construction site fatalities were due to being struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment. * Correspondence to: Xiuwen Sue Dong, [email protected]. Construction workers who worked as crossing guards and paving/surfacing operators at road construction sites had the highest risk of fatal injuries. # These work zones include construction, maintenance, or utility work on a road, street, or highway.
Transcript
  • 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.

  • 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

    www.cpwr.com

    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

  • 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.

  • DATA REPORT 4

    Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018

    www.cpwr.com

    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

  • DATA REPORT 5

    Section 1: Trends of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites Second Quarter 2018

    www.cpwr.com

    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

  • 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

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

    Second Quarter 2018

  • 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.

    8484 Georgia AvenueSuite 1000

    Silver Spring, MD 20910

    www.cpwr.com

    Please visit CPWR’s other resources to help reduce construction safety and health hazards:

    Construction Solutions http://www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org/

    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


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