The Most Dangerous States for Construction Workers, Ranked

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David Keech
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The Most Dangerous States for Construction Workers, Ranked

  • Tennessee ranks as the most dangerous state for construction workers.
  • South Dakota follows in second, with the most deaths per 100,000 construction laborers.
  • On the flip side, Rhode Island, Minnesota and Arizona rank as the safest state.

The rise of construction activity in the last few years is quite apparent, with the industry steadily growing each year. Regardless of this growth and the enhancement of safety measures applied, danger is still one of the factors that laborers have to deal with.

 

Due to the dynamic nature of construction, laborers often find themselves working at great heights, handling heavy materials, and operating dangerous machinery, all of which elevate the risk of accidents. Despite strict rules and safety steps, construction remains one of the most dangerous jobs worldwide.

 

This study has identified nine factors that determine which US states are most dangerous for construction workers. These factors include OSHA construction inspections, citations, and fines; weather conditions and precipitation; health insurance costs; salaries; as well as the total number of registered construction employees and fatalities in the workplace.

 

Based on these factors, Abels & Annes P.C., a personal injury company, has ranked and compiled a final list of the most unsafe states for working in construction.

 

Tennessee tops the list as the most dangerous state for construction workers, with one of the highest numbers of fatalities, 129 per 100,000 workers. Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a significant number of citations in Tennessee, indicating that safety standards are not being met. This factor makes it even more unappealing for construction workers to seek employment in the state.

 

South Dakota followed closely behind in second place. The state records the highest number of construction-related fatalities in the US, approximately 143 per 100,000 workers. Also, South Dakota faces challenges such as some of the most expensive prices for private healthcare, colder average temperatures, and lower salaries per hour, all of which weigh negatively for construction workers in The Mount Rushmore State.

 

California ranks third as the most dangerous state for construction due to the highest number of fines, inspections and citations from the OSHA, surpassing other states in this category, but it ranks well for the frequency of fatalities, with 54 deaths per 100,000 workers. In addition, private healthcare costs are expensive, which makes construction jobs in California even riskier.

 

Louisiana takes the fourth spot in the US. The state has a lot more rainfall on average making it uncomfortable for workers to do their jobs. Healthcare costs in Louisiana are some of the highest in the nation, and the death rate is very high, at 128 deaths per 100,000 workers. Moreover, construction workers in Louisiana earn lower salaries compared to other states. All these factors make construction workers face bigger challenges in the workplace.

 

North Carolina ranks among the top five states with a higher number of encounters with OSHA. Due to the large number of construction employees in the state, salaries of the construction field are some of the lowest, and healthcare prices come at more of a premium than other states.The number of fatalities stands at 84 per 100,000 laborers, making The Old North State not the best choice for construction workers.

 

Alaska stands sixth, with the highest private healthcare costs in the US. It is no surprise to learn that Alaska also has the highest average of rainfall and snow in the country, making building things a little more difficult. Deaths in the industry are also more common than average in the state, at 86 per 100,000 workers. Based on this, Alaska doesn’t prove to be a desirable place for the industry.

 

Ranked seventh on the list, Delaware has the second highest fatality rate with around 130 per 100,000 workers. Additionally, when it comes to salaries, The Diamond State ranks on the lower side of the spectrum. This can be a big worry for workers who are already in danger of injury or death due to their work environment.

 

Florida ranks eighth among other states, even though The Sunshine State is known for its warm climate, it also has one of the highest volumes of rainfall in the US. Citations, inspections and penalties from the OSHA are common in the state. This implies that on average there are more rules broken in the state. Private healthcare is more expensive than average, and the fatality rate stands at 84 deaths per 100,000 workers.

Next on the list is Mississippi, which ranks ninth when it comes to dangerous states for construction workers. Deaths in the workplace are more apparent in the state, at 118 per 100,000 laborers. Additionally, the salaries of construction workers in Mississippi are among the lowest in the country, making the cost of living even harder to deal with.

 

Rounding out the top 10 is Georgia. Although it has the lowest number of registered construction workers on this list, it still receives many OSHA inspections and fines. Despite having some of the lowest salaries for construction laborers in the US, private healthcare is actually much cheaper compared to other states, which comes as a relief to many residents who might otherwise struggle to afford healthcare services.

 

Rank States No. of Employed Construction Workers OSHA Construction Fines OSHA Construction Citations OSHA Construction Inspections Average Temp. Annual Precipitation Salary – Hourly rate Fatalities Average Cost of Health Insurance Total
1 Tennessee 18 20 7 14 37 6 15 3 29 52.72
2 South Dakota 22 39 42 47 10 40 12 1 6 52.17
3 California 22 1 1 1 41 39 45 38 15 51.70
4 Louisiana 8 28 33 32 48 2 11 4 8 50.33
5 North Carolina 12 15 9 8 38 9 2 20 11 49.04
6 Alaska 30 34 29* 37 1 38 29 18 1 46.48
7 Delaware 19 29 38 49 30 16 22 2 27 46.12
8 Florida 14 8 15 9 49 5 14 19 13 45.28
9 Mississippi 23 33 37 35 45 3 3 7 37 44.90
10 Georgia 24 10 16 15 43 8 6 15 38 43.28
11 Washington 11 7 2 2 22 28 43 30 39 42.90
12 Oklahoma 20 30 32 33 39 29 4 9 17 42.75
13 Wyoming 2 44 16 48 5 48 28 21 5 41.72
14 Indiana 29 27 21 22 26 25 31 5 46 41.27
15 Michigan 24 17 3 3 13 31 37 23 40 41.22
16 Ohio 22 3 10 11 23 27 36 31 35 40.93
17 Texas 1 2 4 4 46 34 8 49 19 40.92
18 New Jersey 26 4 12 13 27 15 42 24 30 40.34
19 West Virginia 8 36 41 40 28 17 21 32 3 40.15
20 Illinois 26 5 8 7 25 26 47 28 12 40.14
21 Virginia 18 14 13 12 34 19 5 22 48 39.93
22 Nebraska 13 26 34 31 21 37 27 16 7 39.27
23 South Carolina 19 43 31 34 42 11 16 10 33 38.91
24 Kentucky 28 25 28 26 35 12 19 12 40 38.67
25 Missouri 25 13 22 23 32 23 41 17 18 37.57
26 Arkansas 21 30 39 43 39 7 9 11 44 37.56
27 Vermont 16 41 40 46 6 22 33 39 2 37.51
28 North Dakota 3 31 45 45 2 42 38 8 32 37.34
29 New York 26 6 6 5 14 45 50 45 4 37.11
30 Pennsylvania 20 9 14 10 20 21 34 37 25 36.60
31 Nevada 13 23 24 21 36 50 20 13 28 36.52
32 Maine 16 33 30 39 4 23 39 14 22 36.16
33 Utah 5 38 25 25 19 49 10 25 16 35.66
34 New Hampshire 26 32 33 36 8 20 44 6 50 35.49
35 Connecticut 28 21 18 27 17 10 46 26 9 34.50
36 Wisconsin 16 11 46 19 9 32 40 27 21 34.15
37 Oregon 16 29 11 6 24 35 35 36 23 33.62
38 Massachusetts 17 12 19 18 14 14 49 29 10 33.14
39 Alabama 13 16 20 24 44 4 1 47 19 32.47
40 Kansas 12 19 29 31 32 33 25 34 14 30.84
41 Maryland 15 22 5 17 31 18 17 41 49 30.76
42 Hawaii 10 30 26 30 50 1 7 35 42 30.60
43 Colorado 6 18 23 20 11 43 23 42 34 28.45
44 Iowa 11 24 26 28 14 30 32 43 31 27.04
45 Idaho 9 35 35 38 12 41 24 33 43 26.61
46 New Mexico 7 40 43 44 28 46 13 48 24 23.67
47 Montana 4 45 44 42 7 44 30 44 26 23.60
48 Arizona 15 42 27 29 46 47 18 46 36 22.18
49 Minnesota 15 27 17 16 3 36 48 40 47 21.78
50 Rhode Island 27 37 36 41 18 13 26 50 45
15.95
Safest States

Rhode Island is known for its low construction fines, citations, and inspections, and it’s apparent that it has the lowest fatalities per 100K construction workers. While it has a low cost of health insurance, there are better states for construction salaries. Regardless, Rhode Island remains a favorable place for construction workers due to its safe working environment and affordable healthcare options.

 

Despite its reputation for cold weather, Minnesota is actually known for providing some of the highest salaries in the construction industry. Furthermore, the state offers affordable health insurance options. With these excellent benefits, Minnesota is a great place for those in the construction industry to live and work.

 

Arizona’s construction industry has been performing well in terms of safety, as it has a relatively low number of fatalities compared to other states. The excellent weather conditions in Arizona have contributed to this positive trend, allowing contractors to operate with minimal safety hazards. Overall Arizona is a great state for working in construction.

Nicholas Tate, a personal injury lawyer from Injury Claims commented on these findings:

“In the face of ongoing uncertainty, construction companies must always prioritize worker safety and health. Improved safety conditions not only reduce workers’ compensation expenses but also boost employee morale and decrease liability.

 

Safety is a crucial issue for construction workers, and the likelihood of a safe working environment can vary depending on geographic location. This research indicates that construction workers in states such as Tennessee, South Dakota, California and Louisiana face higher risks than those in other parts of the country. Enhancing OSHA oversight in these areas could potentially save numerous lives and ensure that more construction workers return home safely to their families each night.

Methodology

This study has identified nine factors indicating which US state is the most dangerous for construction workers. Each of these factors was given a numerical score to rank each state. The data for each state was scaled, weighted, and totalled to produce the final ranking for this study.

 

The impact of each factor was assessed, and a different numerical weight was assigned accordingly to determine what makes it dangerous for working as a construction laborer.

 

Here are the factors, along with their respective weights:

 

Fatalities: 30%
Average Cost of Health Insurance (2024): 15%

OSHA Construction Total (Penalty) Fines from 1/1/17 to 1/29/2024 ($): 10%

OSHA Construction Citations from 1/1/17 to 1/29/2024: 10%

OSHA Construction Inspections from 1/1/17 to 1/29/2024: 10%

Salary – Hourly rate: 10%

Weather Conditions – Average Temp °F: 5%

Annual Precipitation (inch): 5%

Total Number of Employed Construction: 5%

 

The data for each factor was collected from the following sources:

 

Fatalities: https://www.bls.gov/iif/state-data/fatal-occupational-injuries-in-alaska-2022.htm

Average Cost of Health Insurance (2024): The average costs per state are for Silver plans meant for 40-year-olds.

https://www.cms.gov/& https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/

OSHA Construction Total (Penalty) Fines, citations and inspections:

https://ogletree.com/data-visualizations/osha-tracker/

Salary – Hourly rate: https://www.zippia.com/construction-worker-jobs/salary/

Weather Conditions – Average Temp °F:

http://www.usa.com/rank/us–average-temperature–state-rank.htm?hl=&hlst=&wist=&yr=&dis=&sb=DESC&plow=&phigh=&ps=

Annual Precipitation (inch):

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/wettest-states

Total Employed Construction:

https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/geoOcc/Multiple%20occupations%20for%20one%20geographical%20area

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David Keech
Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]

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