NYCOSH releases 2026 Deadly Skyline Report

The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) recently released its 2026 “Deadly Skyline” report.

The annual report examines the latest construction fatality data, uncovers systemic safety failures that continue to place workers at risk, and outlines actionable recommendations to help prevent future injuries and deaths while creating safer job sites throughout New York.

The Committee said on its website construction worker fatalities across New York City and New York State continue to highlight the urgent need for stronger workplace safety standards, enforcement, and accountability.

The Deadly Skyline report is produced using data compiled from multiple sources, including OSHA, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the New York City Department of Buildings, the New York State Department of Labor and its Workplace Fatalities Registry, and media reporting.

Fatalities declining, but remain concerningly high

NYCOSH’s report compared 2023 and 2024 construction fatalities in both New York City and New York State.

OSHA accident data revealed four of the construction fatalities that occurred in New York State happened during heat events, or while temperatures were above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

NYCOSH recommended:

• Passing the TEMP Act to require access to water, rest breaks, shade, and other life-saving protections during dangerous heat conditions

Need for improved training for demographics at higher risk

NYCOSH also found an estimated 18.6% of New York State’s workers are Latinx, and in 2024, 25.8% of total worker fatalities were of Latinx workers.

Of OSHA’s 31 New York State-based construction fatality investigations in 2024, 81% of the construction workers who died were non-union.

NYCOSH recommended:

• Mandate construction training and certification programs that combine technical instruction with on-the-job learning across New York State
• Ensuring funding to guarantee low-income workers can access training
• Providing training in multiple languages
• Protecting Latinx and immigrant workers from being put in high-risk conditions without the protections they need

No legal restrictions for contractors with OSHA violations

OSHA violations coincide with construction worker fatalities, yet NYCOSH found violations do not prevent contractors from receiving government subsidies.

NYCOSH analyzed construction fatalities investigated by OSHA in New York State in 2024 and found 77% of worksites where a worker died also had OSHA violations identified during the inspection.

For example, in cases where a worker died from a fall, employers were often cited for failing to provide required safety training or failing to implement fall protection measures such as harnesses or guardrails. Despite these violations and fatalities, there are currently no legal restrictions preventing these employers from receiving public subsidy dollars.

NYCOSH recommended:

• Preventing companies whose owners or managers are convicted of felonies related to worker deaths or injuries from obtaining licenses or permits, and permanently disqualify repeat offenders from obtaining state and city subsidies.
• Tie public subsidies to compliance with wage laws, comprehensive training programs, and local hiring initiatives
• District attorneys across New York State should holding negligent contractors criminally accountable when their actions lead to worker injuries or death
• Enforce Carlos’ Law to impose meaningful penalties against employers whose negligence caused worker injuries or deaths
• Stronger enforcement of the state’s Scaffold Safety Law

OSHA inspections, public information have not rebounded from pandemic

In New York State, OSHA conducted 3,162 inspections in 2025, a 7.3% decrease from 3,411 inspections in 2024, and a 29.1% decrease compared to pre-pandemic levels - 4,455 inspections - in 2019.

The average OSHA fine amount in 2024 was $25,295, down from $32,123 in 2023. NYCOSH found this is the lowest average fine amount since 2017.

In 2019, OSHA issued 21 press releases, reflecting higher enforcement visibility prior to the pandemic. This number dropped to 14 in 2020 , and remained consistently low until 2024, when press release activity increased to 20. In 2025, OSHA issued just 3 press releases, the lowest number of press releases since NYCOSH began publishing its report.

NYCOSH said these trends suggest OSHA’s decreased public communication and enforcement signaling raises concerns about visibility, deterrence, and accountability in workplace safety enforcement.

NYCOSH recommended:

• Protecting funding for OSHA, including worker safety and health training grants