Annual Fatality Data Shows Uneven Results for Construction Workers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its 2018 data on occupational fatalities in December 2019.  By reviewing and comparing the 2017 and 2018 BLS data in each sector, this article concludes that the annual BLS data, which is widely viewed as the best measure of industry-wide safety trends, can be used to help outreach efforts around specific hazards.  However, users need to keep in mind that every worksite is different, with its own set of unique challenges and opportunities. Also, it is important to remember that this data lags behind current conditions on today’s workplaces by a full year. LIUNA members are called to always assess and fix the hazards that are right in front of them, even if they are not spotlighted on the annual report.