But 'known and emerging risks continue to result in injuries to workers, showing there is more work to be done’'
The construction injury rate in British Columbia has fallen by 25 per cent over the past decade, a shift that signals progress but also reinforces the need for occupational health and safety professionals to stay focused on high‑risk activities, according to new WorkSafeBC figures released for Construction Safety Week.
Over the same 10‑year period, the serious injury rate in construction declined by 32 per cent. WorkSafeBC attributes these improvements to stronger safety management practices, including more effective hazard identification and control that actively involves workers, and more proactive approaches to training, supervision and psychological safety.
The data were released in Richmond, B.C., on May 6, 2026, as the first week of May — Construction Safety Week — prompts employers and workers to reflect on safety performance and renew their commitment to prevention on B.C. construction sites.
Persistent high‑risk hazards in construction
Despite the gains, construction remains one of the highest‑risk sectors in the province. WorkSafeBC reports that serious injuries continue to be driven largely by familiar, preventable hazards: falls from heights, workers being struck by mobile equipment, and musculoskeletal injuries related to overexertion and other bodily motions.
Preliminary data for 2021 to 2025 show WorkSafeBC accepted approximately 38,000 construction‑sector claims (short‑term, long‑term and fatal), including more than 7,400 serious injury claims, 174 of which were fatal. Total claim costs over that five‑year period exceeded $1.3 billion.
Musculoskeletal injuries remain the most common injury type in construction, with nearly 11,000 claims in that period attributed to overexertion and other bodily motions. Nearly 5,800 claims were related to falls from elevation, and almost 7,000 involved workers being struck by objects, equipment or vehicles. WorkSafeBC says this pattern “highlights a persistent gap between what is known about these hazards and how consistently effective controls are applied on worksites.”
Emerging risks and complex worksites
Emerging risks are adding complexity as projects increase in scale and involve more employers and subcontractors. WorkSafeBC says it is placing greater emphasis on large, multi‑employer worksites, including major infrastructure and development projects, where oversight and coordination can be more challenging.
The regulator’s current focus on these projects includes cranes and mobile equipment, pre‑job safety planning, prime contractor oversight and coordination, and clearly defined employer responsibilities for both workers and subcontractors. These areas are identified as critical to preventing serious incidents arising from equipment operation, site layout and overlapping work activities.
Occupational disease remains a significant concern. As of Jan. 1, 2024, employers performing asbestos abatement work in B.C. must hold licences to operate, 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 silicosis and lung cancer, which may take decades to develop.
Regulatory focus and employer responsibilities
The report states that employers play a critical role in addressing both longstanding and emerging risks by ensuring hazards are consistently identified and controlled, workers are properly trained and supervised, and health and safety systems keep pace with changing work environments.
WorkSafeBC inspections are described as a key mechanism to support safer worksites. The agency reports that “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.”
“Construction Safety Week highlights the progress we’ve made in improving safety on worksites,” said 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.”
Here are the numbers on worker injury rates in B.C.’s construction sector in the past five years, according to data from WorkSafeBC:
