Lessons to Learn: An Analysis of OSHA-Investigated Fall Fatalities in the U.S. Construction Industry, 2015-2019

9 pages•Published: May 26, 2024

Abstract

Falls remain the leading killer in the U.S. construction industry. Despite the recurring nature of fall- related fatalities, the construction industry seems to struggle with learning from past incidents. Between 2015 and 2019, over 37% of all construction fatalities (1,902 out of 5,172) were fall-related. This research study aims to analyze Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigations of fall-related fatalities in the construction industry during this 5-year period to identify trends and patterns of these fatal occurrences. More than 40% of the fatality investigations conducted by OSHA between 2015 and 2019 involved falls. Of these falls, roofing contractors accounted for over 25% of all fall fatalities, many of which were in the falls from roofs category. This study identified 20 types of work activities that preceded the construction fall fatalities investigated by OSHA. Industry professionals and academia can leverage the "lessons learned" from this paper to develop training programs that reduce the likelihood and severity of falls from height on construction sites.

Keyphrases: accidents, construction safety, falls, focus four, osha

In: Tom Leathem, Wes Collins and Anthony Perrenoud (editors). Proceedings of 60th Annual Associated Schools of Construction International Conference, vol 5, pages 858-866.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/7Vn3
	https://doi.org/10.29007/jxr7

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2024:Lessons_Learn_Analysis_OSHA,
  author    = {James Jenkins and Sonya Meekel},
  title     = {Lessons to Learn: An Analysis of OSHA-Investigated Fall Fatalities in the U.S. Construction Industry, 2015-2019},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of 60th Annual Associated Schools of Construction International Conference},
  editor    = {Tom Leathem and Wes Collins and Anthony Perrenoud},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {5},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/7Vn3},
  doi       = {10.29007/jxr7},
  pages     = {858-866},
  year      = {2024}}

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