Construction and Iron Workers are Still Ranked in the Top Most Dangerous Jobs

Workplace injuries and fatalities can occur in any field—and those in construction are especially prone due to exposure to more dangerous situations than most jobs. A few construction jobs were recently ranked in the top 25 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. by AdvisorSmith, which analyzed the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2019.

According to the study by AdvisorSmith, on-the-job deaths have been increasing in recent years, going from 4,836 in 2015 to 5,333 deaths in 2019, an increase of 10% over the five-year period and a 2% increase from the 5,250 in 2018.

However, the rate of deaths adjusted for employment has only risen about 4% over the same period, as an improving economy has led to additional employment. In 2019, the average fatality rate among all jobs was 3.4 per 100,000 workers.

Structural iron and steel workers ranked ninth on the list with 18 total fatal occupational injuries in 2019—an improvement from last year’s report citing the group having ranked sixth on the list with 15 total fatal occupational injuries in 2018.

Its fatal injury rate was 27 per 100,000 workers. The most common events or exposures leading to injury were falls, slips and trips.

Other construction industry occupants that made the list include roofers (3), construction helpers (4), construction supervisors (13), construction workers (19), construction equipment operators (20) and crane operators (23).

According to a news release from the BLS, fatal falls, slips and trips increased 11% in 2019 to 880. Transportation incidents remained the leading cause of fatal injuries, accounting for 2,122 worker deaths.