Entry Details

About the Entry

Category: 
All Content > Data Journalism > Mid Atlantic

Title of entry: 
Construction Dive investigation: Why OSHA's death rate hasn't budged in a decade

Issue or Publication date:
11/3/2022

Publication name: 
Construction Dive

Publishing/parent company: 
Industry Dive

View Website home page:
https://www.constructiondive.com/

About the Publication:

Description of the enterprising work that went into this entry and its significance or impact on readers:

A Construction Dive investigation uncovered that the worker death rate hasn’t budged in 10 years, and found that federal safety inspections — if they even occur — do little to protect construction workers' lives.

The project used U.S. Census Bureau data to track the amount of construction projects during the last 10 years and compared it to Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection data, specifically counting inspections on construction sites. A side-by-side data visualization shows readers how construction projects went up, and OSHA inspections went down. Digging further, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed the fatality rate barely changed since 2011 and the “fatal four” accidents still account for the largest number of worker deaths.

Through additional reporting and interviews, editor Zach Phillips and data journalist Julia Himmel ultimately uncovered how little a safety net state and federal governments supply to protect workers. This article examines how OSHA is anything but a feared enforcer, lacks resources and staff to complete the appropriate amount of inspections, and its arsenal of fines for violations doesn’t rise above the cost of doing business.

The final story became a reminder to an audience full of construction industry leaders that efforts to protect workers’ safety largely rests with them.

Construction Dive’s competitor, Building Design + Construction, picked up the impactful story, a true sign it broke new ground and uncovered details not reported elsewhere.

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Entry URL(s), if applicable:
Please enter a URL that will direct judges to the entry: 
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/osha-enforcement-violations-death-on-the-jobsite-construction/634308/