Roofing distributors and the construction materials wholesaler industry experienced an increase in workplace fatalities as well as cases of injuries and illness.
The disheartening news comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual “Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary,” which tracks fatal workplace injuries from the prior year. The report shows that, in the overall category of “Lumber and other construction materials merchant wholesalers" that roofing suppliers falls under, a total of 18 fatal injuries occurred in 2022. This is a 38.4% increase from last year’s number of 13, though not nearly as large of an increase as seen from 2020 to 2021 (63%).