03.01.2020

Decline in falls

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a work related fatalities report for 2018, showing fatal falls from height are at their lowest level since 2013, in spite of great construction activity.

In total, 5,250 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2018. Falls from height accounted for 15 percent of the total, but declined 14 percent to 791 – the lowest since 2013 – after having reached a six year high of 887 in 2017. OSHA claims that this was due, in part, to a reduction in falls overall as well as enforcement efforts which, it says, helped prevent more than 7,000 fall related hazards.

In spite of the reduction, the fatality rate among roofers was at an all time high and more than 10 times OSHA’s all-worker rate of 3.5 fatalities per 100,000, placing it among the top four occupations with the highest number of fatalities - behind loggers, fisherman and aircraft workers.

Tragically, overall unintentional overdoses at work increased 12 percent – a figure that has risen year on year for the past six years – while suicide at work increased 11 percent. Transport related incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event, accounting for 40 percent of all work related fatalities.
Please register to see all images

Fatal falls from height were at their lowest level since 2013

Loren Sweatt, principal deputy assistant secretary of occupational safety and health, said: “OSHA will continue to use Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for enforcement targeting within its jurisdiction to help prevent tragedies. Inspections for OSHA were up, and we will work with state plans so employers and workers can find compliance assistance tools in many forms or call the agency to report unsafe working conditions. Any fatality is one too many.”
Please register to see all images

Roofers remain one of the top occupations with the highest fatalities per 100,000

Employers that require assistance in meeting safety obligations can take advantage of OSHA’s on-site consultation program – which is free of charge and totally confidential – while OSHA training centres are also available to provide training throughout the country.