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Injury underreporting among small establishments in the construction industry
Xiuwen S Dong1, Alissa Fujimoto, Knut Ringen
1CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. sdong@cpwr.com
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|January 20, 2011
Summary
Occupational injury and illness underreporting is common in the construction industry, especially for small businesses and Hispanic workers. Addressing this requires focusing on these predominant small establishments to understand true injury extent.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Construction Safety
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Occupational injury and illness rates in construction are significantly underestimated.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) data is known to underreport.
- Underestimation is particularly evident within the construction sector.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent of underreporting of occupational injuries and illnesses in the construction industry.
- To identify demographic and establishment-size factors associated with underreporting.
- To inform strategies for more accurate injury surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 15 years of data from five national sources (SOII, CFOI, CBP, CPS, MEPS).
- Utilized regression trends and ratio analyses.
- Stratified data by establishment size and Hispanic ethnicity.
Main Results:
- Small construction establishments exhibit the highest rates of underreporting injuries.
- SOII data captured only 25% of severe injuries in Hispanic workers and 60% in white workers at small establishments.
- Underreporting is more pronounced among Hispanic workers compared to white workers.
Conclusions:
- Underreporting of occupational injuries is pervasive in small construction establishments and disproportionately affects Hispanic workers.
- Small establishments constitute the majority of the U.S. construction industry.
- Future efforts to accurately assess construction-related injuries should prioritize small establishments and vulnerable worker populations.
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