b'Construction Jobsite Falls a Rising Problem Trueblood told Construction Dive its a challenge to The number of falls has increased by over 50% in thereach small businesses but said CPWR offers tools and last decade, according to a recent data analysis. educational programs to help employers learn how to control hazards, train workers and use effective equipment. Falls have long been one of the construction industrys most life-threatening hazards, and thatOther causes for days away from work, such as trend is heading in the wrong direction. overexertion involving outside sources (15.4%) and other exertions or bodily reactions (6.5%) were among In the most recent publicly available data, the rate ofthe six most common causes for nonfatal injuries falls to a lower level in U.S. construction increasedleading to time away from the job. 13.3% from 2011 to 2022, as the raw number of falls jumped by 52.7%, according to a fatal injury trendsThose kinds of injuries stem from lifting, pulling, analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data bypushing or carrying materials or objects and can occur Silver Spring, Maryland-based CPWRThe Centerfollowing a single event or multiple similar strains. for Construction Research and Training.They can also result in musculoskeletal disorders, which, Trueblood noted, can become a predictor of a The analysis found that majority of those falls, 70%,future fall or opioid use.occurred at smaller companies that employ 10 or fewer employees, according to a July 31 CPWRI also like to highlight as an injury epidemiologist that webinar. despite an injury not resulting in a death, a non-fatal injury can still greatly impact workers and their Falls also accounted for two of the most commonfamilies as well as employers and a lot of these injuries kinds of nonfatal injuries leading to days away fromcan have lifelong consequences that we need to work, CPWR found. Falls to a lower level and fallsunderstand, Trueblood said. So in addition to on the same level accounted for 13.4% and 9.9%,preventing fatal injuries we can also hopefully keep respectively, of all days away from work cases. our workers safe and healthy long term.CPWR Data Center Director and webinar host Amber Trueblood pointed to other nonfatal cases as indicators of the broader problem. Looking at the bigger picture can help understand how hazards contribute to other potential injuries, she said. We do need to understand nonfatal injuries and near misses to actually prevent fatal injuries, Trueblood said. Of construction jobs, roofers had the highestZachary Phillips -Editor number of fatal falls in 2022 The construction occupations with the highest number of fatal falls, slips and trips in 2022, the most recently available public data. 10'