Monday, January 8, 2007

The rush to build houses, workplaces and stores for the Washington area's growing population was reflected in a sharp increase in the number of work-related deaths in the area in 2005, particularly in the construction industry.

The total number of fatal occupational injuries in the region rose to 99, up 18 percent from 2004, according to a recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The greatest portion of those deaths -- 37 -- took place at construction jobs, where workers fell from a roof or ladder, were struck by objects or were crushed by machinery. The other major causes of work-related deaths were highway crashes and homicides.

Most work-related deaths were among white men. The most common cause of work-related fatalities for Hispanics was falls in construction jobs.

"It makes sense when you think about how much more construction was going on in the Washington area in that time," said Maureen Greene, an assistant regional commissioner for the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Philadelphia.

The population of the Washington area increased 10 percent from 2000 to 2005 to more than 5.9 million residents. Other areas growing in population or seeing extensive redevelopment such as Boston, Philadelphia and Miami also showed increases in numbers of construction-related deaths.

The other major category of deaths were homicides at the workplace, which was the leading cause of occupational fatalities for black and Asian workers. Ten people in the Washington area died from homicide at the workplace.

One theory by Greene: Asians and African Americans more frequently take jobs that are susceptible to violent crime. Such jobs include driving taxis and operating convenience stores and gas stations.

-- Cecilia Kang