FEATURE
can worker fatalities was transportation and warehousing ( 200 ) and for Hispanic or Latino workers it was construction ( 410 ). Foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers made up 67.1 percent ( 839 ) of all Hispanic or Latino worker fatalities ( 1,250 ). Fatalities in the private construction industry sector accounted for 37.5 percent ( 315 ) of the 839 foreign-born Hispanic or Latino worker deaths in 2023 . Workers ages 55 to 64 continued to have the highest number of fatalities in 2023 with 1,089 ( 20.6 percent of total fatalities ). Transportation incidents were the highest cause of fatalities for this age group ( 401 ), followed by falls , slips and trips ( 226 ). Falls , slips and trips accounted for 39.2 percent ( 421 ) of all construction fatalities , with transportation incidents accounting for another 22.3 percent ( 240 ) of fatalities . Most fatal falls ( 260 or 64.4 percent ) within construction were from a height of between 6 and 30 feet , while 67 fatal falls were from a height of more than 30 feet . Portable ladders and stairs were the primary source of 109 fatalities in construction . Work zone fatalities reached a 17-year
high in 2021 . Between 2013 and 2021 , work zone fatalities increased 61 percent . In 2021 , more than 105,000 work zone crashes were estimated to have occurred , resulting in more than 42,000 injuries and 954 work zone fatalities . Protecting lives on construction sites requires a collective effort . Since we are seeing an increase in vehicle accidents over the years and the general public is not adhering to these laws , it may be more beneficial if the construction industry , government agencies and advocacy groups would “ prioritize safety reforms ,” such as increase law enforcement presence by deploying police officers to monitor and enforce speed limits in work zones to create a visible deterrent . A new law just passed in Michigan allowing the use of automated traffic enforcement devices in work zones to enforce speed limit reductions , signed by the Governor on December 10 , 2024 . Construction Angels and other advocacy groups would like to see stronger laws and penalties for drivers who endanger workers . Stricter measures , such as increased fines , license suspensions or jail time for reckless driving in work zones could save more lives across the USA . These efforts , coupled with industry innovations and a commitment to worker safety , can make 2025 a real turning point in reducing roadway construction fatalities . What do you believe the construction industry can do better in 2025 to secure construction work zones and prevent construction fatalities on our roadways ? Please send your ideas to Contact @ ConstructionAngels . us , as we would love to hear from you .
Kristi Ronyak is the CEO and founder of Construction Angels . Visit www . ConstructionAngels . us for more information on the scholarships and support they provide , how to donate , upcoming fundraisers / events and more ways you can get involved .
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