Fatal Fall Accidents in Small Building Construction Projects

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States accounting for over 21.7% of the occupational fatalities annually. Falls are the major cause of fatal construction accidents and, according to the Census of Occupational Fatalities and Injuries, majority of the fatal fall accidents happen in projects that are reported to cost under $50,000. These small construction projects have unique circumstances because of the type of the contractors and short project durations. Comprehensive understanding of the root-causes, circumstances, and environment factors of these accidents is critical in developing preventative measures, standards, and targeted training programs. This paper provides a project level analysis of the fatal fall accidents in small building projects using Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s accident reports between 1998 and 2007. The analysis includes categorization of accidents based on project size, type, and accident circumstances for each contactor type. The analysis identifies high risk activities for fall fatalities under different circumstances. This detailed project level information provides a valuable educational tool for construction programs as well as a guide to strategically target high risk areas through prevention, enforcement, and training.