Working on a press release highlighting trends relating to
construction and work related accidents in New York City (ie:
Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, etc). Need reputable,
quotable references or resources containing information relating to
general workplace accident trends (especially upward) and trends for
areas such as: slip and fall accidents, scaffolding accidents, trench
accidents, elevator mis-leveling, welding accidents, electrocution,
defective machinery, etc.

Also please site any relevant major new construction projects in the
New York City area such as the reconstruction of the World Trade
Center, etc.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 09 Sep 2004 17:41 PDT

Hello,

I believe I may know a source of information that can address the first question.

However, the second question -- relevant new construction projects --
strikes me as more elusive and subjective.  I'd be hesitant to tackle
this second question myself.

You may be better off posing these as two separate questions here at
Google Answers, so that if one question is more difficult than the
other (or even unanswerable) it won't prevent you from getting a
response to the first question.

pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by netxpert-ga on 09 Sep 2004 18:38 PDT

Breaking question into two separate pieces per recommendation. 

This question now reads:

Working on a press release highlighting trends relating to
construction and work related accidents in New York City (ie:
Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, etc). Need reputable,
quotable references or resources containing information relating to
general workplace accident trends (especially upward) and trends for
areas such as: slip and fall accidents, scaffolding accidents, trench
accidents, elevator mis-leveling, welding accidents, electrocution,
defective machinery, etc.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 10 Sep 2004 09:56 PDT

netxpert-ga,

I was hoping to be able to provide you the stats you're seeking, but
it turns out that very little information has ever been published
below the state level of analysis.  That is, there is trend
information in the construction industry for the nation as a whole,
and for NY State...but nothing that I could find for NY City.

What little information there is for NYC can be found in these two links:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/pdf/vs/2001sum.pdf
SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS 2001

and


http://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfoinyc.pdf
Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2000


Note that both these sources report occupational fatalities --
information on injuries is available only at the state, not city,
level.  In addition these are snapshots, not trends -- once again,
trends are only available at the state or national level.

I've written a fair number of press releases in my time, and I'd be
glad to go through the data to pull out as many soundbite-worthy
statistics as I can find.  Let me know if you'd like me to do this, as
an answer to your question.

However, given the paucity of the data, I'd have to caution you in
advance that there simply may not be the type of information out there
that you're seeking.

Let me know what you think.

pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by netxpert-ga on 10 Sep 2004 21:02 PDT

Thank you for your input. We could expand the scope of the inquiry to
New York if needed. The goal is to give sound-byte worthy statistics
and trends that alert readers to the fact that work place accidents
and serious construction injuries appear to be on the rise. We
recently launched a website that is targeted toward assisting New
Yorkers with work related injuries. The press release would educate
them and lead readers to a website which offers additional information
and legal assistance as applicable.

netxpert-ga,

I think your instincts are on the mark.  

Working in the construction industry in New York can be dangerous  --
more so than most other occupations -- and things seem to be getting
worse rather than better, with indications that the authorities are
not doing much to stem the tide.

I've summarized below some key figures from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics in the US Department of Labor, and added a few additional
sources of information as well.

Before rating this answer, please let me know if anything here is not
clear, or if you need any additional information.  Just post a Request
for Clarification, and I'll be happy to assist you further.

Best of luck with your press release and with the success of your
site.  It sounds like an important and worthwhile venture.

pafalafa-ga


==========


NOTE about the statistics:   
--BLS reports injuries/illnesses separate from fatalities, and that
separation is maintained here.
--Occupational "incidents" --job-related  injuries and illnesses --
are reported as incidence rates (number of incidents per 100 workers)
as well as by total number of cases.
--Fatalities are reported as the number of deaths in an industry.
--The most recent year that data is available is 2002




OVERVIEW OF 2002 STATISTICS:

--In 2002, the construction industry in New York State reported 5.6
incidents (non-fatal job-related injuries or illnesses) for every 100
workers, or 5.6%  -- far higher than then the overall rate in private
industry of 3.5 incidents per 100 workers (3.5%).

--Heavy construction (non-buildings), in particular, had an
accident/illness rate of 7.3%  -- more than twice the 3.5% overall
incidence rate in the private sector -- and considerably more than the
accident/illness rate in the manufacturing sector, which was 4.5%  in
2002.

--Electrical work in the construction industry was particularly
dangerous, with an overall rate of 8.9%.

--Construction (non-building) in the public sector was even more
dangerous for workers, with an extraordinary incidence rate of 18.5%
in two categories of construction:  Heavy construction
(non-buildings),  and Highway/Street construction.  The
accident/illness rate in these categories was slightly higher than the
incidence rate in police work (18.4%) in 2002.

--In terms of raw numbers, these incidence rates translate to 15,600
occupational injuries/illnesses in the construction industry in New
York State in 2002 serious enough to require reporting to the
authorities.

--There were also 52 construction-related worker deaths in 2002, out
of a total number of 233 worker fatalities in New York State, making
the construction industry the largest overall contributor to worker
fatalities in the state

--More than half the construction industry fatalities occurred in New
York City (30 out of 52).

 

TRENDS BETWEEN 2000-2002:


--To make matters worse...the data point to increasing numbers of
incidents in the construction industry in New York.

--The overall incidence rate for private industry fell between
2000-2002 from 3.9 cases per 100 workers (3.9%) to 3.5.  In the same
period, the incidence rate in the construction industry rose from 5.1%
to 5.6%.  This meant the addition of almost 2,000 illnesses/injuries
in 2002 compared to 2001 (figures for 2000 are not available).

--Trends in the heavy construction (except buildings) category rose
from 5.5% in 2000 to 7.3% in 2002.





MISCELLANEOUS:


--A special investigation by the New York Times in 2003 showed that
New York State was among the states that did not have aggressively
prosecute workplace fatalities, even when a business was clearly at
fault.


--In recognition of the particular dangers of the construction
industry, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has
established eLCOSH -- the Electronic Library of Construction
Occupational Safety and Health -- at:  
http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/index.html






SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/pr0206ny.pdf
Table 6. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and
illnesses by industry and case types, 2002
New York

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/pr0207ny.pdf
Table 7. Numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by
industry and case types, 2002
New York

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/pr016ny.pdf
Table 6. Incidence rates1 of nonfatal occupational injuries and
illnesses by industry and selected case types, 2001
New York

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/pr017ny.pdf
Table 7. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by
industry and selected case types, 2001
New York

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/pr006ny.pdf
Table 6. Incidence rates1 of nonfatal occupational injuries and
illnesses by industry and selected case types, 2000
New York

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfnyc_ny.pdf
New York
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, 2000

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfoinyc.pdf
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, 2000
New York City


The New York Times -- Special Series:  When Workers Die.

A Trench Caves In; a Young Worker Is Dead. Is It a Crime?; WHEN
WORKERS DIE -- First of three articles: The Plumber's Apprentice
Dec 21, 2003  page A.1

U.S. Rarely Seeks Charges For Deaths in Workplace; WHEN WORKERS DIE --
Second of three articles: A Culture of Reluctance
Dec 22, 2003. page A.1 

California Leads Prosecution Of Employers in Job Deaths; WHEN WORKERS
DIE -- Last of three articles: The California Way
Dec 23, 2003. p. A.1



==================


Again, let me know if you need any additional information.  All the best...

pafalafa-ga



search strategy:  Google search on:  [ "construction industry" injuries statistics ]

---

Request for Answer Clarification by netxpert-ga on 12 Sep 2004 12:21 PDT

Is everything above the source information your summary and is it all
supported by facts from the reference sources? May we use parts of
your summary in our press release? Were you able to find any other
information on non construction related workplace accident trends and
if so are they on the rise also? Do you think that we should broaden
the scope to U.S. trends?

---

Request for Answer Clarification by netxpert-ga on 12 Sep 2004 12:26 PDT

Is there any more current data than 2002? Is there an easy way to view
the New York Times articles since there are no links?

Thank you

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 12 Sep 2004 14:13 PDT

>>Is everything above the source information your summary and is it all
supported by facts from the reference sources?<< 

Yes, and yes.  These are all summaries of the BLS data, as referenced
in the "Sources" information I provided.  For each fact presented, you
can certainly say:  "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics..."


>>May we use parts of your summary in our press release? <<

I presented the facts in bullet format, so you can see the sound-bite
potential of it.  Of course, you can make use of any of these same
facts in your press release.

>>Were you able to find any other information on non construction
related workplace accident trends and if so are they on the rise also?
<<

There is, indeed, other information in the sources referenced
pertaining to accidents in industry sectors other than construction. 
Since your question asked only about the construction industry, I
naturally focused my efforts there.  However, I did note (in the
Trends summaries) that overall rates in private industry have fallen,
in the same period in which construction injuries/illnesses are on the
rise.


>>Do you think that we should broaden the scope to U.S. trends?<<

That depends entirely on what story you're trying to tell, and on who
your audience is.  I'm not sure what advice I can offer, other than to
say the broader the geographic scope, the more information you're
likely to find.  Since you asked about NY, this is where I focused my
research.
 

>>Is there any more current data than 2002?<<

Not that I'm aware of.  I certainly would have provided any more
recent data had I found it.  By the way, I did talk to staffers at the
BLS and NYC Dept of Health, and they both told me that 2002 was the
most recent data.


>>Is there an easy way to view the New York Times articles since there
are no links?<<


Some of the NY Times' series was reproduced on the web, here:

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/weekly_2003/when_workers_die.html


Any librarian should be able to get you copies of the actual articles.
 They are also available online at the NY Times archives site, but
you'll have to sign up to their service, and pay a small fee for each
article.  You can access the archives at:


http://query.nytimes.com/search/advanced?srchst=nyt


Enter:  "when workers die" in the search box (include the quotes), and
it should pull up the text of the articles you're interested in.



Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.


pafalafa-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by netxpert-ga on 14 Sep 2004 08:24 PDT

You're doing a great job! The only other thing that I need is a little
more info about trends relating to general workplace accidents. The
original question (listed below) did include this request. This could
be for New York or National. Once that is complete, I feel confident
in giving you an excellent rating. Please contact me if you need any
further clarification.

One other question - You quoted the 2002 stats as being the most
current for the info that we received. We are concerned about
publishing a press release at a time when newer information may be
pending. Do you know when the 2003 stats will be released?

Thank you,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Question:
Working on a press release highlighting trends relating to
construction and work related accidents in New York City (ie:
Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, etc). Need reputable,
quotable references or resources containing information relating to
general workplace accident trends (especially upward) and trends for
areas such as: slip and fall accidents, scaffolding accidents, trench
accidents, elevator mis-leveling, welding accidents, electrocution,
defective machinery, etc.

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 14 Sep 2004 19:37 PDT

Here's the additional information you needed...sorry I missed this
first time around:


In New York State, between 2000-2002 (the most recent year for which
data are available),  the rate of job-related illnesses and injuries
rose in the construction industry.

In 2000, the overall rate of incidents was 5.1 per hundred workers
(5.1%), and this rose to 5.6 per hundred (5.6%) in 2002.


For the same period, the changes in other industry sectors were:

Agriculture:  Increased from 4.7% in 2000, to 6.1% in 2002 (1,900
incidents in 2000, and 2,400 incidents in 2002)


Manufacturing:  Decreased from 5.5% in 2000, to 4.5% in 2002 (46,500 to 
33,100).

Transportation/Public Utilities:  Decreased from 6.2% to 5.2% (25,400 to 
19,300)

Wholesale/Retail Trade:  Decreased from 4.2% to 3.6% (58,800 to 47,500)

Finance/Insurance/Real Estate:  Decreased from 1.3% to 1.0% (8,500 to 6,200)

Services:  Unchanged -- 3.2% (incidents decreased from 74,100 in 2000,
to 65,900 in 2002, but this reflects the decrease in overall
employment in this sector -- the percent of incidents was unchanged).

State/Local Government:  Decreased from 9.8% to 8.6% (93,200 to 74,600)



By the way, I omitted a link in my original answer, which should have included:


http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/pr007ny.pdf

Table 7. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by
industry and selected case types, 2000



Also, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not announced a release date
for the 2003 data, but the data from 2002 was released in December
2003, so I imagine that the 2003 data may well be released in December
2004.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you on this.


pafalafa-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by netxpert-ga on 29 Sep 2004 08:42 PDT

Sorry for the delay. I have been out of the office. The client has
decided to wait for the 2003 data to be released before creating the
final press release. In the mean time I will rate your answer as
excellent so that we can close out this ticket and allow you to
receive payment.

Is there a way to have you work on this as a new item when that
information is released? Can you find out if new information will be
released in December? Is there a way to hire you to write a press
release when the new information becomes available? Are we allowed to
contact you independently?

Thank you,

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 29 Sep 2004 10:55 PDT

Hello again,

Glad to hear back from you, and thanks for the "excellent" rating (you
can formally rate the question as well...the instructions are below).

I checked on the status of the 2003 data and, lo and behold, some of
it's out already, released just last week:

http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2003


If you want further work done on these data, you can post a new
question here at Google Answers -- if you want to direct it
specifically to my attention, just put "For pafalafa-ga" in the
subject line and in the text of the question.

As for contacting me independently -- the "prime directive" here at
Google Answers is that all communication occur right here, in these
public exchanges, so I'm afraid there is no way for us to communicate
outside the GA mechanism.  It can be awkward, but them's the rules!

Looking forward to whatever's next....


paf

==========

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