New York construction accident statistics are important because they show where workers keep getting hurt, which job site dangers repeat, and why safety failures still carry real consequences in New York.
In New York City, the Department of Buildings reported 320 construction-related incidents with injury or fatality, 320 injuries, and 10 fatalities in 2025. DOB data also shows that worker falls remained the leading reported incident type that year.
In 2026, the city has continued to report new incidents through monthly year-to-date updates, which give an early look at where the risk remains.
In this Gorayeb & Associates article, we break down the latest numbers, the boroughs, and accident types that stand out, and what these statistics do and do not show.
How high are the construction injury rates New York workers face?
Construction injury rates New York workers face are still serious. In New York City alone, the NYC Department of Buildings reported 320 construction-related incidents with injury or fatality, 320 injuries, and 10 fatalities in 2025.
In the first two months of 2026, the city reported 48 incidents with injury or fatality, 48 injuries, and 1 fatality. At the same point in 2025, the count was 51 incidents, 51 injuries, and 3 fatalities.
These numbers help, but they do not all mean the same thing.
- An incident is the event itself.
- An injury is the person hurt in that event.
- A fatality is a death.
In many cases, one incident leads to one injury, but not always. That is why a serious report should not throw all three numbers together as if they were the same.
The main source for current New York City numbers is NYC DOB. Its reports focus on incidents on construction sites, or caused by nearby construction activity, within DOB’s jurisdiction. That makes DOB the best source for current city-level tracking. It is the clearest way to see what is happening right now on active job sites in places like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
Other sources answer different questions. BLS gives broader fatal-work-injury data. OSHA data helps explain hazard patterns and enforcement, not just city incident totals.
That is why NYC construction accident data, federal fatality data, and OSHA construction statistics NYC readers may find online do not always match line by line. They are related, but they are not counting the exact same universe of events.
What do these numbers mean for a worker? They show that serious job site injuries are still happening across New York City. They also show that a lower count does not mean the danger is gone. But they do not prove who caused a specific accident, who should pay, or whether a worker has a claim. For that, the facts of what happened still matter.
Where do construction accidents happen most in New York City?
Construction accidents by borough NYC are happening most often in Manhattan right now.
Through February 28, 2026, Manhattan had 28 reported construction-related incidents with injury or fatality. Brooklyn had 8. The Bronx had 6. Queens had 6.
That does not mean one borough is automatically “the most dangerous.” It means accident volume is showing up more in the parts of the city with the most active job sites, the most high-rise work, and the most daily construction traffic.
The same pattern showed up in full-year 2025. Manhattan ended the year with 148 incidents with injury or fatality. Brooklyn had 73. The Bronx had 52. Queens had 44. Staten Island had 3.
And if you go back to the city’s 2024 annual construction safety report, Manhattan had 238 incidents and Brooklyn had 232, while Queens had 93, the Bronx had 68, and Staten Island had 7.
So when people look up construction accidents NYC statistics, the clearest pattern is not random spread. It is concentration in boroughs where more construction work is happening every day.
That lines up with what workers already know from real life.
Manhattan has dense work zones, tower jobs, sidewalk sheds, facade work, roof work, and building repairs in places like Midtown, the Upper West Side, and Lower Manhattan.
Brooklyn has constant residential building, renovation work, mixed-use projects, and smaller job sites packed close together in areas like Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Bushwick.
Queens and the Bronx also see serious risk, especially around mixed-use corridors, warehouse areas, large apartment buildings, and road-adjacent work zones.
A lower borough count does not mean a safe borough. It only means fewer reported incidents in that period.
What does this mean for a worker? It means that where you work matters, but the number by borough does not decide whether your accident was minor or serious.
A fall from a scaffold in Brooklyn, a roof accident in Queens, or a struck-by incident near heavy equipment in the Bronx can still change your health, your paycheck, and your family’s stability.
NYC construction accident data helps show where injuries are piling up. But it does not tell the full story of what happened on your site.
What construction accidents happen most on New York job sites?
New York City’s construction incident data shows the same pattern across 2024, 2025, and early 2026.
In 2024, the dataset recorded 638 incidents. In 2025, it recorded 432. By March 24, 2026, it had already recorded 97.
Manhattan had the highest number of incidents in all three periods, with 238 in 2024, 184 in 2025, and 46 by March 24, 2026.
The leading incident type was Worker Fell in 2024, then Other Construction Related in 2025 and early 2026.
The second most frequent category was Other Construction Related in 2024, then Worker Fell in 2025 and early 2026
Note: 2026 data covers the period from January 2 to March 24.
Figure 1. General Executive Summary of NYC Construction Incidents (2024-2026)*
| Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (As of March 24) |
| Total Incident Records | 638 | 432 | 97 |
| Borough with Most Incidents | Manhattan (238) | Manhattan (184) | Manhattan (46) |
| Most Frequent Incident Type | Worker Fell (257) | Other Construction (169) | Other Construction (40) |
| Second Most Frequent Type | Other Construction (206) | Worker Fell (167) | Worker Fell (26) |
*This table provides a high-level overview of the trends and key statistics of NYC Construction Incidents across all years.
The citywide breakdown by accident type shows where the biggest concentrations remain.
Worker Fell and Other Construction Related are the two categories at the top across the full period.
After those, the next most frequent categories are Material Failure (Fell), Mechanical Construction Equipment, Scaffold/Shoring Installations, and Excavation/Soil Work.
Total construction incidents by borough in New York City
The borough totals show where construction incident volume has concentrated most.
Manhattan had the highest count in every period, followed by Brooklyn.
- In 2024, Manhattan recorded 238 incidents and Brooklyn recorded 232.
- In 2025, Manhattan recorded 184 and Brooklyn recorded 124.
- By March 24, 2026, Manhattan recorded 46 and Brooklyn recorded 23.
Queens and the Bronx remained below those totals, while Staten Island recorded the lowest counts.
Figure 2. Annual Totals of Construction Incidents by Borough in NYC
| Borough | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* | Cumulative Total |
| Manhattan | 238 | 184 | 46 | 468 |
| Brooklyn | 232 | 124 | 23 | 379 |
| Queens | 93 | 56 | 13 | 162 |
| Bronx | 68 | 59 | 15 | 142 |
| Staten Island | 7 | 9 | 0 | 16 |
| NYC TOTAL | 638 | 432 | 97 | 1,167 |
These totals follow the city’s construction map. Manhattan carries dense tower work, facade jobs, roof work, sidewalk shed activity, and building repair work. Brooklyn carries a large share of residential construction, renovation work, and mixed-use projects. Queens and the Bronx post lower totals, but the same main accident types still appear there.
Most common construction accident types across all NYC boroughs
Across all five boroughs, Worker Fell led in 2024 with 257 incidents, followed by Other Construction Related with 206.
In 2025, Other Construction Related rose to 169, while Worker Fell followed closely with 167.
By March 24, 2026, Other Construction Related had 40 incidents and Worker Fell had 26. Material Failure (Fell), Mechanical Construction Equipment, Scaffold/Shoring Installations, and Excavation/Soil Work remained below those two categories in each period.
Figure 3. Annual NYC Construction Incidents Breakdown by Type (Citywide)
| Incident Type | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* | Grand Total |
| Worker Fell | 257 | 167 | 26 | 450 |
| Other Construction Related | 206 | 169 | 40 | 415 |
| Material Failure (Fell) | 68 | 43 | 15 | 126 |
| Mechanical Construction Equip. | 49 | 26 | 11 | 86 |
| Scaffold/Shoring Installations | 31 | 17 | 4 | 52 |
| Excavation/Soil Work | 27 | 10 | 1 | 38 |
This citywide pattern points to the same recurring job site dangers. Worker Fell includes falls from ladders, scaffolds, roofs, platforms, and openings. Material Failure (Fell) covers debris, loose material, and structural parts that came down. Mechanical Construction Equipment includes incidents involving heavy machinery, moving equipment, and machine contact zones.
Most common construction accidents in Manhattan
Manhattan had the highest total in every period.
- In 2024, Other Construction Related led with 96 incidents, followed by Worker Fell with 92.
- In 2025, Worker Fell moved slightly ahead with 80, while Other Construction Related followed with 78.
- By March 24, 2026, Other Construction Related led again with 25 incidents, followed by Worker Fell with 14.
Material Failure (Fell) and Mechanical Construction Equipment also remained present in each period.
Figure 4. Total Construction-Related Incidents by Type in Manhattan (2024-2026)
| Incident Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* | Cumulative Total |
| Worker Fell | 92 | 80 | 14 | 186 |
| Other Construction Related | 96 | 78 | 25 | 199 |
| Material Failure (Fell) | 23 | 12 | 4 | 39 |
| Mechanical Construction Equip. | 19 | 12 | 3 | 34 |
| Scaffold/Shoring Installations | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Excavation/Soil Work | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
The Manhattan profile reflects a borough with high construction density, tall buildings, facade work, and a constant mix of repair and active site traffic. Those conditions keep falls, dropped materials, and machine-related incidents in regular circulation.
Most common construction accidents in Brooklyn
Brooklyn stayed second in total incidents across all three periods.
- In 2024, Worker Fell led with 88 incidents, followed by Other Construction Related with 73.
- In 2025, Other Construction Related rose to 58, while Worker Fell dropped to 34.
By March 24, 2026, Other Construction Related remained first with 7 incidents, while Worker Fell, Material Failure (Fell), and Mechanical Construction Equipment each recorded 5.
Figure 5. Total Construction-Related Incidents by Type in Brooklyn (2024-2026)
| Incident Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* | Cumulative Total |
| Worker Fell | 88 | 34 | 5 | 127 |
| Other Construction Related | 73 | 58 | 7 | 138 |
| Material Failure (Fell) | 31 | 15 | 5 | 51 |
| Mechanical Construction Equip. | 15 | 10 | 5 | 30 |
| Scaffold/Shoring Installations | 9 | 4 | 0 | 13 |
| Excavation/Soil Work | 16 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
Brooklyn’s totals reflect a mix of residential construction, renovation work, smaller sites, and mixed-use development. The data shows repeated exposure to falls, falling materials, and machine-related incidents.
Most common construction accidents in the Bronx
The Bronx recorded 68 incidents in 2024, 59 in 2025, and 15 by March 24, 2026.
- Worker Fell led in 2024 with 30 incidents and in 2025 with 27.
- By March 24, 2026, Other Construction Related moved ahead with 7 incidents, while Worker Fell followed with 4.
Material Failure (Fell) remained present in all three periods.
Figure 6. Total Construction-Related Incidents by Type in Bronx (2024-2026)
| Incident Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* | Cumulative Total |
| Worker Fell | 30 | 27 | 4 | 61 |
| Other Construction Related | 22 | 20 | 7 | 49 |
| Material Failure (Fell) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Mechanical Construction Equip. | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Scaffold/Shoring Installations | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Excavation/Soil Work | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
The Bronx data follows the same broad city pattern. Falls remain near the top, while material failures and equipment incidents continue to appear in smaller but steady numbers.
Most common construction accidents in Queens
Queens recorded 93 incidents in 2024, 56 in 2025, and 13 by March 24, 2026.
- Worker Fell led in both 2024 and 2025, with 47 and 24 incidents.
- By March 24, 2026, Scaffold/Shoring Installations stood out more strongly in Queens than in some other boroughs, with 4 incidents.
Material Failure (Fell) and Mechanical Construction Equipment also appeared across the full period.
Figure 7. Total Construction-Related Incidents by Type in Queens (2024-2026)
| Incident Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* | Cumulative Total |
| Worker Fell | 47 | 24 | 3 | 74 |
| Other Construction Related | 13 | 11 | 1 | 25 |
| Material Failure (Fell) | 7 | 8 | 3 | 18 |
| Mechanical Construction Equip. | 8 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| Scaffold/Shoring Installations | 14 | 7 | 4 | 25 |
| Excavation/Soil Work | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
Queens shows a broader mix of accident types, including scaffold-related incidents, falls, and material failures. That makes it one of the boroughs where the category mix is more varied than the citywide average.
Most common construction accidents in Staten Island
Staten Island recorded 7 incidents in 2024, 9 in 2025, and 0 by March 24, 2026.
Across the full period, the borough still showed a spread across several categories, including Worker Fell, Other Construction Related, Material Failure (Fell), Mechanical Construction Equipment, Scaffold/Shoring Installations, and Excavation/Soil Work.
Figure 8. Total Construction-Related Incidents by Type in Staten Island (2024-2026)
| Incident Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026* | Cumulative Total |
| Worker Fell | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Other Construction Related | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Material Failure (Fell) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mechanical Construction Equip. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Scaffold/Shoring Installations | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Excavation/Soil Work | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
The borough total is smaller, but the incident types remain varied. The lower count reflects fewer recorded incidents in the dataset, not the absence of serious accident types.
The full city picture shows a stable pattern. Falls remain near the top across years and boroughs. Other construction-related incidents also remain high. Material failures, equipment incidents, scaffold issues, and excavation incidents appear less often, but they remain part of the same construction risk map across New York City.
Who faces the highest risk on New York construction job sites?
The highest risk on New York construction job sites usually falls on workers assigned to elevated work, demolition, roofing, scaffold access, debris handling, and heavy equipment zones. These are the jobs where falls, falling material, and machine contact happen most often.
That pattern also appears in the data. In New York City, the latest federal figures recorded 24 construction-sector deaths in 2023, and 12 involved falls, slips, or trips.
Broader reporting also shows that Latino workers, immigrant workers, and undocumented workers are part of the workforce most exposed to these dangers, especially in jobs tied to height, scaffolds, roofing, cleanup, and heavy equipment.
NYCOSH reported 74 construction worker deaths statewide in 2023 and said 74% of OSHA-inspected fatal construction cases in New York had OSHA violations.
It also reported that Latino workers made up 38% of New York State construction deaths in 2023, a share far above their percentage of the statewide construction workforce.
That pattern appears across the city:
- Brooklyn Heights: A worker fell from the roof of a building after losing balance near the edge of the parapet.
- Prospect Heights: A worker on a scaffold fell about 13 feet after losing balance between the scaffold and a fire escape, landing on a metal fence.
- Fort Greene: A worker fell about 20 feet while installing a beam for a sidewalk shed.
- Crown Heights: A worker fell from the top level of a scaffold while removing wooden planks.
- Borough Park: A worker doing waterproofing work on a residential roof fell about 35 feet to the ground.
- Greenpoint: An excavator boom detached and fell on a worker.
- Ridgewood: A worker fell 20 feet through an opening while removing wooden formwork.
- Kew Gardens: A worker fell about 30 feet while trying to access a suspended scaffold from a fire escape.
- East Village: A worker fell about 15 feet while installing wooden planks on metal roof beams.
- Upper West Side: A worker installing safety nets around a scaffold fell from the 15th floor onto the roof of a sidewalk shed.
- Mount Hope: During cleanup near an excavator, the machine’s arm detached and struck a worker in the head with the bucket.
These deaths and life-changing injuries point back to the same failures again and again: missing fall protection, unsafe scaffold access, unsecured material, and equipment hazards.
When those facts are present, a family may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim and seek money for funeral costs, lost income, and other losses after the worker’s death.
What do these NYC construction statistics really mean?
These New York construction accident statistics show where risk keeps repeating, but they do not tell the full story of any one accident.
A lower number in one year does not mean New York job sites are now safe. Falls, equipment incidents, and unsafe work areas can still cause severe injury or death.
OSHA construction statistics NYC readers may find online help show common safety failures, while city reports show where injuries are being recorded most often.
But no report can tell by itself who caused the accident, who should pay, or whether a worker has a valid claim. That part depends on the facts, the work site, the equipment, and what safety steps were missing.
For workers, these numbers are a warning to take any construction injury seriously, even when the fall seems short or the pain starts later. Report the incident, get medical care, keep photos, names, and records, and do not assume the company version is the full version.
When the accident involves a fall, falling material, heavy equipment, or unsafe access, it may help to speak with a construction accident lawyer who knows how these New York job site cases are built. At Gorayeb & Associates we handle these cases in New York City and can review what happened.
FAQs about New York construction accident statistics
How many construction accidents have happened in NYC in 2026?
NYC DOB reported 48 incidents with injury or fatality, 48 injuries, and 1 fatality through February 28, 2026.
Which borough has reported the most incidents so far?
Manhattan led early 2026 with 28 incidents, followed by Brooklyn with 8.
What type of accident shows up most often?
Worker falls remain one of the top categories. In full-year 2025, Worker Fell was the leading incident type in NYC DOB’s year-end summary.
Are construction deaths going up or down?
The answer depends on the dataset. NYC DOB reported 7 fatalities in 2024 and 10 in 2025, while broader federal data for New York City recorded 24 construction-sector deaths in 2023.
Why do city and federal fatality counts differ?
Because they do not count the exact same universe of incidents. NYC DOB tracks incidents within its reporting scope, while federal data can include a broader occupational count.
Do these statistics mean an injured worker has a legal claim?
No. Statistics can show patterns, but a claim depends on the facts of the accident, the work site, the equipment, and what safety steps were missing.
What New York construction accident statistics mean for NY workers?
These numbers point to real problems workers deal with every day: personal injuries, falls, heavy equipment, dropped material, hospital visits, missed paychecks, and pressure at home while bills keep coming.
A short fall can still mean months without work. A scaffold, roof, or machine accident can change what a family lives on. When those patterns show up on a job site, the details of what happened deserve a close look.
At Gorayeb & Associates we handle New York construction cases and can review how a fall, struck-by accident, or unsafe work area may fit under New York law. New York construction accident statistics help show the pattern. The facts of your accident show what comes next.
