Elevator-related fatalities in construction industry increasing: CPWR

Silver Spring, MD — A total of 145 construction workers were killed in elevator-related incidents from 2011 through 2016 – more than twice the combined total for all other industries, according to a recent report from the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

Falls to a lower level were the leading cause of elevator-related construction deaths, accounting for 53.5 percent of the fatalities. Nearly half of the fatal falls – 47.9 percent – were from heights of 30 feet or more.

Other findings:

• Workers installing or repairing elevators had the highest fatality rate, at 14.9 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. Laborers experienced the most fatalities, with 31.
• Workers in organizations with 10 or fewer employees comprised 33.8 percent of the fatalities.
• 35.2 percent of the fatally injured workers were younger than 35.
• Annual elevator-related fatality totals trended upward between 2003 (14) and 2016 (28), peaking at 37 in 2015.

The report includes injury prevention strategy recommendations from CPWR, OSHA and NIOSH, including guidance for fall protection systems, personal protective equipment, and safety training and management.