Construction Deaths Decline

But industry maintains highest death rate, national figures indicate

By Candace Doyle
Editor

The number of workplace deaths nationwide dropped by nearly half over the past two decades, according to a recently released report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In general, for all industries, the number of fatalities have decreased or are decreasing," said Suzanne Marsh, a statistician with the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and author of the report. "You see generally a downward shift in all industries in both the number and the rate."

The morbidity and mortality report was released to coincide with Workers Memorial Day, which was last month, and the 30th anniversary of the creation of NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Marsh said.

The report showed that the number of workplace deaths dropped by 28 percent over the past 20 years, from 7,343 in 1980 to 5,285 in 1997. The death rate per 100,000 workers declined more dramatically, from 7.4 to 4.1 - a 45 percent drop.

Dubious distinction

Construction deaths in the country also decreased by 20 percent, from 1,271 to 1,001, said Marsh.

Still, the construction industry outpaced all other lines of work in occupational deaths, she said.

"I think, maybe, construction is one of the industries that hasn't seen as large a decrease," said Marsh, adding that falls remained the leading cause of construction deaths.

The report indicated that there were 103,945 workplace deaths nationwide over the past 20 years, and construction accounted for 19,179, or 19 percent, of those deaths, she said. Transportation, communications and public utilities followed with 17 percent, or 17,489, deaths, and manufacturing with 15 percent, or 15,490, deaths. The death rate for construction, though, ranked third at 15 deaths per 100,000 workers. Only rates for mining and agriculture were higher.

Silver lining

Marsh attributed the decline in workplace deaths, including construction, to better workplace safety regulations. "I think we're seeing better targeted regulations," she said. Workers themselves are more aware of safety conditions, Marsh said, and new technologies have increased safety for many industries. The redistribution of the work force has also contributed to the decline, with more workers leaving manufacturing for service sector jobs, she said.

"As the work force gets older, which it's tending to do as the baby boomers age, it is tending to go into other types of jobs," Marsh said. "Those are all having an effect on the numbers."

Despite the overall drop in the number of fatalities, Marsh cautioned about becoming too complacent.

"Even though we are seeing a decline in the numbers and rates, we still have a lot of work to do," said Marsh, adding that, nationwide, there are 16 workplace deaths a day. "I think NIOSH has acknowledged there have been improvements, but we also recognize there's room for progress.