CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training has released a new Data Bulletin examining caught-in or -between injuries among construction workers, highlighting the risks associated with heavy equipment, machinery, and excavation work.
The October 2026 report analyzes fatal and nonfatal injuries, severe incidents, and OSHA trenching citations to identify common hazards and trends across the construction industry.
According to CPWR, construction recorded 96 fatal caught-in or -between injuries from 2023 to 2024, accounting for 30.4% of these fatalities across private industries. During the same period, approximately 3,400 nonfatal injuries resulted in workers missing time from work.
The report found that 68.8% of fatal caught-in or -between injuries involved collapses or engulfment, while 41.9% of nonfatal injuries involved workers being caught or wedged between objects that were not moving.
CPWR also examined OSHA enforcement data related to trenching and excavation safety. In 2025, OSHA issued approximately 1,700 trenching citations to construction firms, with penalties totaling $7.5 million. The most frequently cited trenching standard involved requirements to protect employees from excavation cave-ins.
