IN OTHER NEWS – A new study recently revealed that Georgia ranks in the top 10 most unsafe states for working in construction.

Release:

• 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.