2025 injury trends in the pipefitting industry

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# Findings 4 # Latinx workers are more likely to die on the job in New York State. Latinx workers have a disproportionate burden of workplace fatalities in New York. While Latinx individuals comprise an estimated 10% of New York State's workforce, they accounted for 26% of all worker fatalities in 2023. This disparity highlights the heightened risks that Latinx workers, many of whom are immigrants, encounter on the job. Reports from NYCOSH have repeatedly shown that Latinx and immigrant workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by employers who disregard safety and health regulations. These violations often occur in industries where oversight is limited, and workers lack adequate access to training, protective equipment, or enforcement of workplace standards. Employers who willfully neglect safety protocols create hazardous conditions, placing these workers at heightened risk of injury or death. Compounding the issue, Latinx and immigrant workers are often reluctant to report unsafe working conditions due to fear of retaliation, a problem that has become much more pronounced with the Trump Administration and its deportation strategy. Immigrants are being deported throughout New York City, including many who did not have any criminal history.³ As a result of this anti-immigrant environment, violations go unreported, leaving workers trapped in unsafe environments with little recourse, and impacting the safety of countless workers throughout New York City construction sites. This pattern of exploitation underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect Latinx and immigrant workers. Policies aimed at strengthening whistleblower protections, increasing outreach to vulnerable communities, and holding employers accountable for violations are critical. Additionally, expanding access to safety training in workers' native languages and fostering trust between immigrant communities and regulatory agencies are essential steps toward reducing fa…

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# Latinx workers are more likely to die on the job in New York State. (cont.) 5 OSHA fines for construction fatalities have decreased dramatically.10.11 OSHA fines for construction fatality cases have fluctuated quite a bit in the past six years (Figure 6), likely influenced by changes in enforcement priorities, case specifics, and penalty structures. There was a steady increase in fines from 2018 through 2020, followed by a large spike in 2021 when penalties hit their highest point at nearly $68,000 on average. However, 2022 showed the beginning of a shift in this previous trend. By 2023, fines dropped pretty significantly to $32,123 on average, representing the lowest average in the six-year period. The downward trend in 2023 may reflect changes in OSHA's enforcement policies, a shift in the type of cases being penalized, or broader systemic factors affecting these regulatory practices. These figures highlight the critical importance of ensuring that fines remain substantial enough to encourage compliance and prioritize worker safety among employers in New York. Strong enforcement and meaningful penalties play a vital role in preventing fatalities and promoting a culture of accountability in the construction industry. 12, 13 Average OSHA Fines for Construction Fatality Cases 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 Dollars (USD) 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 - 10 Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Establishment Search, Found at: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.html - 11 Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Investigation Summaries. Found at: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch. html - 12 Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Establishment Search, Found at: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.html - 13 Occupational Safety and Health Administration.Investigation Summaries. Found at: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch. html DEADLY SKYLINE - 2025 13

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# Findings (cont.) 3 Non-union job sites are especially dangerous for workers. NYCOSH analyzed OSHA's 44 New York State-based construction fatality investigations in 2023 and uncovered significant disparities in workplace safety for non-union construction workers. In New York State, a staggering 77% of construction workers who died on the job were non-union. These findings highlight a growing trend in the construction industry: non-union workers often face greater risks that may be attributed to a lack of access to the same safety protections, training, and advocacy that unionized workers typically receive. Unionized workers benefit from collective bargaining agreements that mandate higher safety standards, more comprehensive training, and stronger enforcement of workplace protections. By contrast, non-union workers, who often work on smaller or less- regulated private projects, may experience weaker safety protocols, less oversight, and greater pressure to prioritize productivity over safety. The high percentage of non-union fatalities on private worksites further underscores the need for increased scrutiny of smaller, non-union contractors and their safety practices. Private worksites may lack robust safety programs or sufficient resources for compliance with OSHA standards, leaving workers vulnerable to preventable hazards. This data reinforces the importance of promoting stronger safety regulations and enforcement, particularly in the non-union sector, to address these disparities. DEADLY SKYLINE - 2025 11

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# Findings The number of press releases issued by OSHA has remained relatively low in the past few years. In 2019, OSHA issued 21 press releases. However, this declined sharply in 2020 to 14 press releases, and was likely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The following years saw little variation, with 15 press releases in 2021, 13 in 2022, and 14 in 2023, indicating a relatively consistent, but low level of communication activity. In 2024, however, the number of press releases rose to 20, marking the first significant increase since 2019. Press releases serve as a critical tool in drawing public and media attention to employers whose negligence or misconduct results in worker injuries or fatalities. Public accountability is essential in fostering a culture of compliance and ensuring safer workplaces. It is the agency's responsibility to hold negligent employers accountable, particularly when their disregard for legal and ethical obligations leads to harm or loss of life among workers. Press Releases Issued By OSHA 25 20 20 15 # OSHA Press Releases 10 10 5 0 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 19 Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2024). News Releases. U.S. Department of Labor. osha.gov/news/newsreleases 16

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# Summary of Findings New York City's construction fatality numbers continue along a deadly upward trend. Thirty construction workers died in New York City in 2023, compared to 24 in 2022 and 20 in 2021. New York State's construction industry remained highly dangerous for workers in 2023, with fatality numbers increasing by 48%. The number of construction workers who died in New York State increased from 50 workers in 2022 to 74 workers in 2023. The construction fatality rate very slightly increased in New York City and increased in New York State. New York City's rate changed from 11.5 per 100,000 in 2022 to 11.6 per 100,000 in 2023. New York State's rate also increased from 9.6 per 100,000 in 2022 to 10.4 per 100,000 in 2023, an 8.3% increase. Latinx workers were more likely to die on the job in NYS. Latinx workers make up a disproportionately high percentage of worker fatalities in New York. An estimated 10% of New York State's workers are Latinx, but in 2023, 26% of worker fatalities were of Latinx workers. This increased slightly from 2022, when Latinx workers comprised the same percentage of workers in the industry and represented 25.4% of worker fatalities. Non-union job sites remained especially dangerous for workers. NYCOSH analyzed OSHA's 44 New York State-based construction fatality investigations in 2023 and found that in New York State, 77% of the construction workers who died among these individuals were non-union. OSHA construction fines for fatality cases decreased, ending a five-year trend of increases. The average fine amount in 2023 was $32,123, down from $59,075 in 2022 - a 45.6% decrease. This reverses a trend for the past five years of increasing OSHA fine amounts for construction fatalities. OSHA inspections are still below pre- pandemic numbers. OSHA conducted 3,772 inspections in 2023. This was an 18.5% increase from 3,183 inspections in 2022, but a 15.33% decrease from pre-pandemic numbers (4,455 inspections in 2019). OSHA continued…

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# Findings 1 # New York State's construction industry remained highly dangerous for workers in 2023, increasing from last year. New York State's construction industry continues to be one of the most dangerous sectors for workers, with fatalities having continued to rise in recent years; Between 2022 and 2023, construction fatality numbers in New York State experienced a sharp increase of 48%, rising from 50 fatalities in 2022 to 74 in 2023. This represents the highest number of construction worker fatalities in New York State in the past 10 years. These figures show a noticeable increase from previous years and highlight the ongoing risks faced by workers in this industry. In the past decade (2014 to 2023), construction fatalities in New York State averaged 58.2 deaths per year, with a total of 582 fatalities occurring throughout this period. Fatalities in Construction in NYS from 2014 to 2023 1 80 70 60 50 # of Deaths 40 30 20 10 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Fatal occupational injuries in New York State. Found at: bls.gov/iif/state-data/fatal-occupational- injuries-in-new-york-state-including-new-york-city-2023.htm 6