Injuries, Illnesses, and Other Health Outcomes

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Falls, Slips, and Trips

The construction industry accounts for nearly half of all falls, slips, and trips that occur in the United States. Falls, slips, and trips are one of the most common causes of injury in the construction industry, averaging over 360 fatalities a year annually since 2011. Examples of falls, slips, and trips include falls on same level and falls to a lower level. Falls, slips, and trips are a major source of fatal and severe injuries among construction workers and therefore must be continually monitored to assess trends and evaluate prevention efforts.

This interactive dashboard highlights fatal and nonfatal falls, slips, and trips in construction, including information by year, exposure type, major subsector, and detailed subsector. The dashboard-level filters, injury type and year, and the two chart-level filters, exposure type and major subsector, update the charts and the bolded and underlined key findings.

Following the interactive dashboard, you will find more information on the data source, definitions, chart notes, a downloadable data file, and recommended citation. This interactive data dashboard corresponds to a chapter in the upcoming PDF version of the Construction Chart Book-7th edition, which will be published this summer. Data will be updated annually as available. If you have any questions or comments, please email [email protected].

About the Data

Sarah Flood, Miriam King, Renae Rodgers, Steven Ruggles, J. Robert Warren, Daniel Backman, Annie Chen, Grace Cooper, Stephanie Richards, Megan Schouweiler, and Michael Westberry. IPUMS CPS: Version 12.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2024. https://doi.org/10.18128/D030.V12.0.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2011-2023 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (CFOI). www.bls.gov/iif/.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2011-2022 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). www.bls.gov/iif/.

Definitions and Chart Notes

Definitions

  • Detailed subsector – 4-digit NAICS codes under each major subsector.
  • Exposure type – Describes how the fall occurred based on the 3-digit event/exposure code.
  • Falls, slips, and trips – Includes falls on the same level, falls and jumps to lower levels, falls and jumps that were curtailed by a personal arrest device, and slips and trips without a fall (OIICS code 4).
    • Falls to a lower level – Includes falls where the injury was produced by impact of the person and another surface of lower elevation (OIICS code 43).
    • Falls on same level – Includes falls where the injury was produced by the impact of the person and another surface without elevation (OIICS code 42).
  • Major subsector – 3-digit NAICS codes within construction, including Construction of Buildings (NAICS 236), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (NAICS 237), and Specialty Trade Contractors (NAICS 238).

Chart Notes

  • Nonfatal injury data includes only private industry construction workers while fatal injury data includes all construction workers.
  • Fatal injury data goes through 2023 while nonfatal injury data goes through 2022.
  • Fatal injury data uses annual estimates while nonfatal injury data uses biennial estimates.
  • Falls, Slips, and Trips by Top Detailed Subsectors
    • Data is unavailable for the following detailed subsectors and years:
      • Fatal injury data
        • Nonresidential Building Construction (NAICS: 2362): 2021
        • Utility System Construction (NAICS: 2371): 2019, 2021-2022
        • Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (NAICS: 2373): 2020 and 2022
        • Other Specialty Trade Contractors (NAICS: 2389): 2020
      • Nonfatal injury data
        • Land Subdivision (NAICS: 2372): 2020
        • Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (NAICS: 23713): 2013
        • Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (NAICS: 23811): 2012 and 2015
        • Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (NAICS: 23812): 2013
        • Glass and Glazing Contractors (NAICS: 23815): 2015
        • Roofing Contractors (NAICS: 23816): 2019
        • Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (NAICS: 23819): 2014, 2016-2018, and 2020
        • Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (NAICS: 23832): 2013-2016
        • Tile and Terrazzo Contractors (NAICS: 23834): 2014, 2017-2018
        • Finish and Carpentry Contractors (23835): 2011-2014
        • All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (NAICS: 23899): 2019
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Recommended Citation and Data File

Recommended Citation
CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training. [2025]. Falls, Slips, and Trips [dashboard].

Data File
The Data File provides aggregate data for fall, slips, and trips in construction as shown on the dashboard.