Worker fatalities, injuries in highway & bridge construction sector decline

The highway and bridge sector is making measured progress in reducing worker deaths and injuries compared to the broader construction industry, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released April 23 to coincide with National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW).

The analysis, conducted by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), reveals that between 2011 and 2023 (the most recent years available), fatal injuries in the Highway, Street, and Bridge (HSB) sector declined 15 percent, while fatal injuries for the rest of the construction sector jumped 41 percent. Non-fatal injuries and illness for the HSB sector also declined, with the number of cases per 1,000 workers decreasing 46 percent.

“These numbers demonstrate that public and private sector efforts to help improve jobsite safety through training and public awareness are having a positive impact,” said ARTBA Senior Vice President of Safety & Education Brad Sant.

While the number of deaths among workers is still unacceptably high – 88 in 2023 alone – Sant believes the downward trend reflects the collaborative spirit between public agencies, industry organizations, and transportation design and construction firms to address safety risks and hazards.

As examples, Sant cited the many organizations working together to promote NWZAW, along with resources provided via the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, which offers free online training and public awareness tools.

The Clearinghouse, a three-decade partnership between ARTBA and the Federal Highway Administration, is the world’s largest online information source on roadway construction zone safety issues.

Last year alone, the Clearinghouse provided free safety courses to 3,000 workers and distributed over 8,000 safety-related documents to key stakeholders.

“To continue reducing worker fatalities and injuries, we need to keep doing what we are doing – and do more of it,” Sant adds.

The theme of this year’s NWZAW, which kicked off in Raleigh, N.C., this week is, “Respect the zone so we all go home.”

ARTBA is a co-sponsor of the event hosted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.