NYC construction deaths drop to lowest in nearly a decade

Good news for construction workers in the Big Apple—the latest annual New York City Construction Report reported the fewest building construction-related fatalities in almost ten years. In a press release, New York’s Department of Buildings (DOB) shared findings from the report, including seven construction-related deaths and an 8% decrease in workplace injuries since 2018.

The Annual Construction Safety Report details construction-related injuries and fatalities in New York City. Key findings from the report include:

• Seven construction-related fatalities in 2023, down from 11 in 2022, representing the lowest NYC construction-related fatalities in almost a decade.
• Worker injuries have risen for the third year, increasing 25% over 2022.
• Falls remain the leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities on construction sites.
• In 2023, DOB issued 31% fewer Stop Work Orders and 18 % fewer OATH violations.
• In 2023, the DOB conducted over 370,000 field inspections in NYC, the highest number since the DOB began tracking data.
• Total permits for all projects decreased by 3%, but initial permits for new building projects increased by 28%.
• 14% increase in ladder falls, stair falls, and tripping incidents.

Despite an increase in building construction-related injuries since 2022, these injuries are still down 8% from five years ago, representing an overall trend of increasing safety on construction sites.

Regarding the report’s data, Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo says, “This Construction Safety Week, let’s challenge ourselves, as an industry and a regulatory agency, to join together in redoubling their efforts to keep construction workers safe on the job site. Collectively, we should be proud of the collaborative work done in 2023 to drive down building construction-related fatalities, but there is still so much work to do because even one death is too many. Our annual Construction Safety Report underscores the progress made in enhancing compliance and promoting worksite safety, while also serving as a potent reminder about the tragic consequences when corners are cut and safety regulations are ignored.”

The DOB hopes that the trend towards increased safety will continue next year, with decreasing injury rates and even fewer construction-related deaths.

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