From the Desk of Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director | | | Using Data to Improve Workers’ Safety and Health | | |
The June issue of CPWR’s Data Bulletin examines injuries in construction, which remains one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. It looks at both fatal and nonfatal injuries, breaking them down by major subsector, event/exposure, primary source, body part, and age. The Data Bulletin shows that the rate of fatal injuries decreased from 2012 to 2024 for Heavy and Civil Engineering companies and Specialty Trade Contractors but rose for Construction of Buildings firms; the nonfatal injuries rate from 2011-2012 to 2023-2024 decreased for all three major subsectors. Learn more about injuries from our interactive Fatality Map and our dashboards on Focus Four Injuries, Injuries by Industrial Country, Transportation Injuries, and Heat Illnesses, all of which have newly updated data.
The Data Bulletin is one important element of how CPWR monitors and reports on injury and illness trends. Since its launch in the mid-1990s, our Data Center has been a leading source of detailed, reliable, and timely statistics and analysis about key issues in construction safety and health. Its best-known product is The Construction Chart Book, which continues to present the most complete data available on all facets -- economic, demographic, employment/income, education/training, safety and health, and more -- of the U.S. construction industry. The 7th edition of the Chart Book, released last year, has added an interactive version with dynamic key findings and charts that update with selected filters. The Data Bulletin, published six times a year, focuses on one topic or emerging issue, and we also respond to individual data requests.
By sharing its findings across the industry, CPWR makes workplaces safer by identifying topics for future research, guiding safety interventions, and providing actionable information for policy makers. A recent survey found our Data Center’s products increase awareness of workers’ safety and health, especially about “hot topics,” and provided a credible and citable source for users to share with others. Most important, this information helps drive changes, such as helping organizations set safety and health goals and develop educational and training materials.
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Small Study Program Now Accepting Applications
We are excited to invite researchers to submit letters of intent to conduct research under our Small Study Program. Since 1993, it has provided 146 research teams with up to $30,000 and the flexibility to initiate short-term studies that:
- Investigate potential risks from emerging hazards and industry changes.
- Explore new approaches for addressing persistent hazards.
- Create and test promising interventions to improve worker health and safety.
- Accelerate research on emerging and persistent safety and health issues.
The program is particularly interested in projects that reach high-risk small employers and develop interventions that can be immediately applied on the job. Support for the Small Studies program comes through CPWR’s cooperative agreement with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and private sector funding from the McElhattan Foundation. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn about the application process and past and current studies on the Small Studies main webpage.
Do Variations in State Consultation Programs Affect Construction Fatality Rates? OSHA Consultation Programs’ Impact on Construction Worker Fatalities. Wayne B Gray, John Mendeloff. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2026. Read the Key Finding and the full paper.
Rigid and soft back-support exoskeletons affect biomechanical and perceptual demands, but in different ways, during simulated shingle installation. Jiwon Choi, Sunwook Kim, Ahmad Raza Usmani, Alan Barr, Carisa Harris-Adamson, Maury A. Nussbaum. Applied Ergonomics, 2026. Read the Key Finding and the abstract.
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June 15-17, Anaheim, CA -- ASSP Safety 2026
6/15, 1:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Incorporating A10 Standards to Strengthen Programs, Reduce Risk, and Lead in Construction
- Gary Gustafson, Director, Environmental Hazards Training Program, CPWR
- John Johnson, Vice President, Environmental Health and Safety, Black and Veatch
6/17, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
ANSI/ASSP Z359 Fall Protection and Restraint Forum
- Thomas Kramer, Senior Fall Protection Consultant, LJB Inc.
- Jessica Bunting, Research to Practice Director, CPWR
- Dan Henn - Chair, ANSI/ASSP Z359 Accredited Standards Committee
- Michael Overholt, Vice President, Safety and Quality, American Contractors Insurance Group
6/17, 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Responsible AI in HES: Practical Use Cases, Guardrails, and Competencies
- Cam Mackey, President & CEO, International Safety Equipment Association /
- Arianna Bailey-Howard, Partner & Founder, Syncra Group / EHS IT Systems and Data Consultant
- MK Fletcher, Deputy Director, CPWR
- Susan Moore - Associate Director -- Science, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, NIOSH
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Deadline Extended for $2 Million Safety Challenge
Our partners at McElhattan Foundation have extended the registration deadline for the Zero Electrocution Challenge, which invites ground-breaking proposals to end fatal workplace electrocutions.
The Zero Electrocution Challenge is the inaugural challenge of ZERO 2050, a recurring national competition to end workplace fatalities. Managed by McElhattan Foundation, the Zero Electrocution Challenge is seeking breakthrough solutions that eliminate life-threatening tasks that lead to fatal electrocution on the job. Strong proposals for the challenge should be effective, game-changing, feasible, and scalable. Two winners will each receive up to $1 million.
To learn more and register, visit the Zero Electrocution Challenge website and review the readiness tool to determine eligibility. To participate, register no later than September 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Three Organizations Sponsor a Call for Nominations: The 2026 Safe-in-Sound Award
Are you or someone you know passionate about preserving worker hearing? If you understand how important hearing is and are making extra efforts to prevent hearing loss, you might be eligible for the Safe-in-Sound Award. Established in 2008 by NIOSH and now sponsored by the National Hearing Conservation Association, the Council for Accreditation in Hearing Conservation, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association, this award is given each year to companies and individuals that have demonstrated excellence in hearing loss prevention. This year nominations are open to companies and individuals from Canada as well. Two awards are given: one for Excellence and one for Innovation (for important contributions that will have a significant impact on hearing loss prevention).
If you or someone you know has that passion and has made such contributions, you can nominate them by June 8, or you can nominate yourself by August 19, 2026. Information on how to apply is on the award’s website. The website also has useful tips on how to submit a strong application. Join the small group of award winners who have achieved new heights in hearing loss prevention.
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