New York City construction fatalities, injuries rise in 2022 as activity booms

New York City’s construction fatalities rose from nine in 2021 to eleven in 2022, according to a report by the New York City Department of Buildings.

Recorded injuries also rose to 554 last year after leveling off in 2020 and 2021. Those sobering facts may be tempered by noting that construction activities in the city rose significantly last year, the report indicated.

Falls continue to be the major problem in work site safety. Nearly 200 workers were injured and nine workers killed in 2022. The department has stepped up oversight efforts, reducing the number of sites that each superintendent is responsible for so that they can be more vigilant in evaluating safety conditions.

These actions may be paying off. Over the last seven years, the number of overall safety incidents has actually trended down. Also, in 2022, the department issued fewer stop-work orders than in 2021. These may be signs that the city’s stepped-up construction safety education drive and enforcement efforts are having a positive impact.