The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) released its 2022 annual report on construction fatalities in New York State, “Deadly Skyline.”
One of its major findings was that non-union job sites are especially dangerous for workers.
“2020 data showcased high percentages of fatalities on non-union job sites.
NYCOSH analyzed OSHA’s 29 construction fatality investigations in 2020 and found that in New York State, 79% of workers who died on private worksites were non-union. In the 7 OSHA-investigated sites in New York City, 100% of the construction workers who died were non-union.
Non-union contractors have little oversight outside of government regulatory agencies, and with OSHA’s underfunding, worksites are not receiving the number of inspections necessary to ensure safety standards are being followed. Union job sites have shop stewards and a trained workforce that are more likely to recognize and report safety violations and have protection from their union against retaliation from their employer. ”
Read the full report here: NYCOSH: Deadly Skyline