Falls are the leading cause of construction-worker fatalities, accounting for one-third of on-the-job deaths in the industry. In 2017, there were 366 fall fatalities out of 971 total fatalities in construction. According to the CPWR, from 2011-2015, 61% of fatal falls in construction occurred in small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Almost two-thirds of fatal falls were from roofs, scaffolds, and ladders. Hispanics are 29% of the US construction workforce yet account for 39% of fatal falls to a lower level.
To address the toll of construction falls, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CPWR – the Center for Construction Research and Training, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) along with the NORA Construction Sector Council launched a National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction in 2012. The 2019 Campaign kicked off with a webinar on March 20th. The webinar recording is available on YouTube, and the related slides can be downloaded here.