Small Construction Firms Face Higher Death and Injury Rates, CPWR Reports

Small Construction Firms Disproportionately Affected by Fatalities in 2022

In 2022, workers at construction companies with 10 or fewer employees made up 42.4% of the industry’s deaths, while those at firms with 11 to 19 employees accounted for 8.1% of deaths, according to a bulletin from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. This data, drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau, highlights the elevated risks in smaller firms. Fatal injuries at companies with 10 or fewer employees increased by 27.5% from 2011 to 2022, rising from 363 to 463, even as all construction deaths grew nearly 40% over the same period.

Key Fatal Injury Trends from CPWR Data

The bulletin indicates that fatal injuries at small construction firms have risen sharply, with the number at firms with 10 or fewer employees jumping from 363 in 2011 to 463 in 2022. According to Safety+Health Magazine, this increase of 27.5% contrasts with the overall industry trend, where construction deaths increased nearly 40% during that time. These figures underscore the specific vulnerabilities in smaller operations, as noted in the CPWR analysis based on federal data sources.

Nonfatal Injury Rates and Employment Statistics

In 2023, the nonfatal injury rate for construction employers with 10 or fewer employees stood at 0.8 per 100 full-time workers, which is twice the rate of 0.4 for establishments with 1,000 or more employees, as reported in the CPWR bulletin. That year, 2.7 million employees worked at construction firms with fewer than 20 workers, representing 91% of the industry’s employees. Additionally, the number of self-employed or independent contractors in construction reached 2.9 million in 2023, up from 2.4 million in 2014, according to the same data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau.

Factors Contributing to Higher Risks in Small Firms

CPWR states that workers at small establishments face disproportionately higher injury rates due to a lack of resources, absence of training programs, and insufficient proper or safe equipment. Furthermore, nonemployer establishments, such as independent contractors, are not typically covered under OSHA protections, exacerbating these risks. According to Safety+Health Magazine, this situation persists as small firms continue to dominate the construction sector, with implications tied to the data on employment and injury trends.