Construction Workers 5x More Likely to Die of Opioid Overdoses

Source: NERCA September Newsletter.

Opioid Overdoses:  The study linked high fatality rates with the likelihood of workers being injured on the job.

A study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health which was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that construction workers are among those with the highest likelihood of dying from an opioid overdose.

From 2011 through 2015, the construction industry fatality rate was about 125 deaths for every 100,000 full-time workers for a total of 1,155 deaths in the state. The average rate for all industries was about 25, claiming a total of 4,302 lives.

The study linked high fatality rates with the likelihood of workers being injured on the job. With construction among the highest injury rates of any industry, experts believe that reducing the chance of injury could be a first step towards decreasing opioid abuse by workers. Of course, even among the construction trades, roofers are also significantly more at risk of injury than other trades. So it is important for contractors to be vigilant in trying to identify and combat drug abuse in the workforce. For resources related to opioid abuse prevention click here.