We applaud your success, and we seek your support to help move the rest of the industry forward. As a whole, the construction industry has made some significant progress. Overall injury and illness rates have fallen. They've dropped below manufacturing for the third year in a row. I commend you, and I encourage you to keep up the good work.
More construction workers die on the job than employees in any other field.
Only 6 percent of Americans work in construction, but 18 percent of our deaths occur there. Those numbers are headed in the wrong direction, and we need to do something about it. Those of you in this room can help. You have the expertise and the commitment to take the lead in reversing the upward trend on fatalities. As the owners or managers of major construction sites in this country, you set the standard for safety.