Each year, more than 1,000 workers lose their lives to construction accidents, a sobering statistic that continues to rise. The latest figures show fatalities have increased by 11%, with falls, slips, and trips accounting for the biggest share (38%).
Construction is especially vulnerable to a category known as “The Fatal Four,” a group that includes falls, electrocutions, struck-by accidents, and incidents of being caught in or between something. Notably, 45% of “struck by” deaths in construction involve vehicles – making transportation incidents the second most fatal category in the industry.
As construction hazards increase, the demand for advanced safety tech grows. Still, Motive’s State of Safety Report shows that many construction firms are underinvested in safety technology. Ninety-five percent of commercial fleets say safety is a priority, but it’s not their top priority.
When asked to rank priorities from a list of options, respondents ranked increasing revenue (#1) and minimizing expenses (#2) higher than improving safety (#3).
The costs of inaction
Firms that don’t invest in safety technology are putting their workers at risk. Yet many still haven’t done it, put off by concerns about financial cost. Research shows costs add up faster without a safety program in place.
Fatal injuries in construction cost the United States $5 billion annually, and non-fatal injuries are just as problematic. In 2022, the construction industry had 169,600 recordable cases of injury and illness, the third-highest rate of any industry. In the past year, OSHA violations have cost contractors an average of $4,236 per citation.
When safety incidents and OSHA violations occur together, contractors experience a substantial rise in their insurance premiums, adding to the total cost of accidents. According to Construction Dive, nearly 4% of all employer compensation costs in construction went toward workers’ compensation claims last year, more than double the average costs for employers in all industries.
Leveraging AI for better construction site safety
In construction, safety risks are as plentiful as projects themselves. Contractors are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) as a lifeline. Motive’s Physical Economy Outlook 2024 shows that:
- 72% of construction leaders say AI is crucial to preventing accidents and coaching drivers, more than leaders in trucking (66%) and oil and gas (61%).
- 40% of construction leaders believe AI improves worker safety.
- 32% say it helps in predicting vehicle and equipment maintenance needs.
Meanwhile, Motive’s State of Safety Report shows that contractors with world-class safety programs experience fewer accidents and safety incidents, lower insurance premiums, and higher driver retention rates than other firms. More than half (57%) of fleets that use AI dash cams report a decline in unsafe driving behaviors, and 73% believe roads are safer with AI-enabled cameras/dash cams.
With such promise, construction firms are investing in AI more than any other industry. In fact, AI use in construction accounted for the highest market share of AI investment in North America, with job site safety a central focus.
At Motive, we create technology and educational guides that empower safety leaders to be change agents and make a real impact. Get on the path to world-class safety performance with our Ultimate Guide: Building a World-Class Fleet Safety Program. We’ll help you:
- Assess the current state of your safety program.
- Strengthen your safety culture.
- Evaluate safety technologies.
- Ensure you have the essentials of a top-tier program.
If you’re interested in how Motive can help you chart a safer course, request a demo or check out our construction fleet management products that help improve safety on the job site and with your fleet.
