The recently published 2022 Deadly Skyline report shows that construction workers face a higher risk of death in New York than in any other state in the country. The Deadly Skyline report is an annual report on construction fatalities in New York State developed by NYCOSH, and this year’s report is based on data collected from 2020—the most recent data available by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2022 Deadly Skyline Report Statistics and Findings
According to the Deadly Skyline report, “Construction deaths accounted for 22 percent of all worker deaths in New York City and 24 percent of all worker deaths in New York State.” Nationally, construction worker fatalities account for 21% of all worker deaths in the country.
While fatality numbers did decrease in 2020 due to COVID-19, construction sites in New York State still remained dangerous; despite fewer workers on job sites due to the pandemic, the fatality rate increased from 10.2 per 100,000 workers in 2019 to 11.1 per 100,000 workers in 2020—a 9% increase. Non-union job sites were especially unsafe with 79% of workers who died on private worksites being non-union. 100% of worker deaths investigated in NYC occured on non-union job sites.
In addition, OSHA increased their construction fines for fatality cases for the 5th year in a row and conducted the lowest number of inspections in the agency’s history. Ultimately, despite lower fatality numbers in New York City overall in 2020, New York still has one of the highest construction worker fatality rates in the country.
Latino Workers Made Up the Highest Percentage of Worker Fatalities in 2020
The Deadly Skyline report also found that 18% of worker fatalities were Latino workers, making up the highest percentage of worker fatalities in the state of New York. This unsettling statistic is only heightened when you look at Latino representation in the construction industry: while Latino workers only represent 10% of all construction workers in New York, they are most at risk of dying on the job site.
The report also found that immigrant Latino workers are more likely to be exploited on the job site than non-Latino workers, and this is made worse by the fact that Latino workers are less likely to report workplace violations out of fear of retaliation.
Severely Injured on the Job? Contact an Attorney at SPBMCC
Despite measures taken to decrease the risk of job site injuries and fatalities, working in construction still remains one of the most dangerous professions in New York. While some worker injuries are inevitable in such a demanding and rigorous industry, many worker injuries and deaths that occur each year are entirely preventable.
If you or a loved one was injured or died on the job site, there is a chance the accident happened as a result of negligence. Contact our New York offices today to request a free consultation with a skilled attorney: call (212) 732-9000 or fill out the form below.
Read the Deadly Skyline report in full here.
According to the report, NYCOSH develops the Deadly Skyline report using data reported by: The Bureau of Labor Statistics; the New York City Department of Buildings; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); and numerous media reports.