The first week of May marks Construction Safety Week, a time to reflect on the measurable progress made in B.C.’s construction sector over the past decade, and to re-commit to safer workplaces.
Over the last 10 years, the overall time-loss injury rate in construction has declined by 25 percent, while the serious injury rate has dropped by 32 percent. This improvement is linked to stronger safety management practices, including more effective hazard identification and management that actively involves workers, along with more proactive approaches to safety fundamentals including training, supervision, and psychological safety
“Construction Safety Week highlights the progress we’ve made in improving safety on worksites,” says Todd McDonald, head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. “That progress reflects sustained efforts across the industry — but known and emerging risks continue to result in injuries to workers, showing there is more work to be done.”
Serious injuries remain driven by known risks
Despite the improvements, construction remains one of the highest-risk sectors in B.C. The industry is now focusing more directly on the hazards that continue to drive the most serious injuries — all of them well understood and preventable with consistent application of effective controls.
Serious injuries continue to be driven primarily by falls from heights and workers being struck by mobile equipment. Musculoskeletal injuries related to overexertion also remain common.
Based on preliminary data:
- Over the five-year period from 2021 to 2025, WorkSafeBC accepted approximately 38,000 claims (short-term, long-term and fatal) in the sector, including over 7,400 serious injury claims, 174 of which were fatal. Total claim costs exceeded $1.3 billion.
- Musculoskeletal injuries remain the most common type of injury in construction, with nearly 11,000 claims caused by overexertion and other bodily motions during that same period.
- Falls from elevation and struck-by incidents also result in significant numbers of injuries in the sector each year. From 2021 to 2025, there were nearly 5,800 injury claims related to falls from elevation and nearly 7,000 involving workers being struck by objects, equipment, or vehicles.
This pattern highlights a persistent gap between what is known about these hazards and how consistently effective controls are applied on worksites.
Emerging risks add new challenges on worksites
As many construction projects increase in scale, new challenges are emerging alongside longstanding hazards. WorkSafeBC is placing greater emphasis on large, multi-employer worksites, including major infrastructure and development projects, with a focus on cranes and mobile equipment, pre-job safety planning, prime contractor oversight and coordination, and employer responsibilities for workers and subcontractors.
Occupational disease also remains a significant concern. That’s why, as of Jan. 1, 2024, employers performing asbestos abatement work require licences to operate in B.C., and anyone performing this work must be trained and certified.
Exposure to other hazardous substances, such as silica dust, continues to pose long-term health risks, including diseases such as silicosis and lung cancer, which may take decades to develop.
Employer leadership and inspections support safer worksites
Employers play a critical role in addressing both longstanding and emerging risks by ensuring that hazards are consistently identified and controlled, workers are properly trained and supervised, and safety systems keep pace with changing work environments.
WorkSafeBC inspections also support safer worksites by reinforcing these practices. Evidence from inspectional experience surveys and prevention programs shows that employers often make meaningful improvements following inspections, with follow-up visits indicating stronger hazard controls and more effective health and safety programs.
Resources
For more information on construction safety requirements and prevention resources, visit worksafebc.com/construction.
- Falls from elevation
- Preventing struck-by incidents involving mobile equipment
- Preventing musculoskeletal injury (MSI)
About WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC engages workers and employers to prevent injury, disease, and disability in B.C. When work-related injuries or diseases occur, WorkSafeBC provides compensation and support to people in their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work. We serve 2.7 million workers and 286,000 employers across B.C.
For more information, contact:
Media Relations, WorkSafeBC
Email: media@worksafebc.com
Tel: 604.276.5157