Building Spaces Safer: Study Highlights Decrease in Home Construction Injury Rates but Highlights Material Risks
Home structure and construction material injuries treated in emergency departments are down over the past 10 years, according to the newest LendingTree study. (Think floors or flooring materials, stairs or steps, doors, fences, windows, counters or countertops, automatic garage doors, hunting tree stands and other similar products.)
Yet a sizable number of injuries occurred across numerous categories over those 10 years, with 18.0 million alone attributed to floors or flooring materials.
Understanding home construction injury rates and materials risks can make building and living spaces safer. Whether you plan to start a DIY home remodeling project or hire professionals to work on your behalf, our research could help you be better prepared for the process.
Key findings
- Home structure and construction material injuries are down 6.7% from 2014. Over the 10 years analyzed, these injuries treated in emergency departments were highest in 2017 (4.6 million) and lowest in 2020 (3.7 million). Since 2020, three of four years have seen less than 4.0 million home structure and construction material injuries.
- By product, floors or flooring materials top the list with 18.0 million injuries over 10 years. Stairs or steps trail at 11.3 million injuries — the only other product above 10.0 million. In total, seven products saw at least 1.0 million injuries from 2014 through 2023.
- By category, counters or countertops, miscellaneous construction materials and cabinets or door hardware saw the most significant injury increases. Their respective increases were 32.1%, 29.2% and 27.9%. Just one other category — home fires/carbon monoxide/gas vapors with unknown products — saw a 10-year injury jump.
- The oldest and youngest experience the highest percentage of home structure and construction material injuries. 16.2% of related injuries occurred to those 80 and older, while 14.6% happened among those younger than 10. Both age groups saw the same product (floors or flooring materials) cause the most injuries. Meanwhile, stairs or steps led the way for each age group from 10 to 59.
- Hunting tree stands saw the biggest disparity in injuries between men and women, followed closely by scaffolding. 91.9% of tree stand injuries were to men, versus 8.1% to women — a difference of 83.8 percentage points. Scaffolding wasn’t far behind at 89.2% among men and 10.8% among women for a difference of 78.4 percentage points. For women, the product in which they experienced the biggest discrepancy in injuries was automatic doors or door openers, at 63.9% versus 36.1%.
Home structure and construction material injuries down 6.7%
Home structure and construction material injuries declined by 6.7% in the 10 years from 2014 through 2023, but the first decrease wasn’t until 2018. 2020 stood out, with 16.1% fewer injuries than the previous year.
Related injuries treated in emergency departments were highest in 2017 (4.6 million) and lowest in 2020 (3.7 million). Although the number of injuries treated climbed after 2020 — 3.8 million in 2021, 4.0 million in 2022 and 3.9 million in 2023 — those figures were still well below prepandemic levels.
While it’s a welcome relief to learn that the number of injuries associated with building materials has been trending downward in recent years, it’s important to keep the following in mind. The Center for American Progress estimates that 23% of construction laborers are undocumented workers, so it’s safe to assume that some of these injuries aren’t reported.
Home structure and construction material injuries, 2014 to 2023 (nationally)
| Year | Injuries | % change YoY | % change from 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4,141,090 | N/A | N/A |
| 2015 | 4,355,904 | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| 2016 | 4,450,981 | 2.2% | 7.5% |
| 2017 | 4,599,700 | 3.3% | 11.1% |
| 2018 | 4,461,616 | -3.0% | 7.7% |
| 2019 | 4,430,336 | -0.7% | 7.0% |
| 2020 | 3,717,272 | -16.1% | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 3,788,883 | 1.9% | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 4,020,861 | 6.1% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 3,865,472 | -3.9% | -6.7% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data.
Floors or flooring materials top list, with 18.0 million injuries
There may come a time when homeowners need to complete repairs on their property or invest in home improvements. So it’s helpful to know which types of building materials are more commonly associated with injuries.
When you examine individual products, floors or flooring materials caused the most injuries, 18.0 million. Stairs or steps follow at 11.3 million — the only other product with injuries above 10.0 million. In total, seven products saw at least 1.0 million injuries from 2014 through 2023.
Many floors or flooring injuries may be associated with slip-and-fall-type accidents, including workers’ compensation claims. According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), 85% of workers’ comp claims are associated with employees slipping and falling due to slick flooring.
Home structure and construction material injuries, 2014 to 2023 (by product)
| Rank | Product | Injuries, 2014 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floors or flooring materials | 17,985,328 |
| 2 | Stairs or steps | 11,346,443 |
| 3 | Ceilings and walls (interior part of completed structure) | 3,535,347 |
| 4 | Doors, other or not specified | 2,619,194 |
| 5 | Porches, balconies, openside floors or floor openings | 1,406,311 |
| 6 | Fences or fence posts | 1,067,077 |
| 7 | Nails, screws, carpet tacks or thumbtacks | 1,031,866 |
| 8 | Windows and window glass, other than storm windows | 900,309 |
| 9 | Counters or countertops | 671,156 |
| 10 | Doorsills or frames | 664,845 |
| 11 | Handrails, railings or banisters | 515,325 |
| 12 | Glass doors or doors with glass panels | 259,482 |
| 13 | Cabinet or door hardware | 220,917 |
| 14 | House repair or construction materials | 213,412 |
| 15 | Ramps or landings | 209,817 |
| 16 | Window sills or frames | 183,076 |
| 17 | General home or room involvement in fires | 146,902 |
| 18 | Garage doors (excluding automatic garage doors or openers) | 139,518 |
| 19 | Gutters, drainpipes, downspouts or runoff pipes | 86,417 |
| 20 | Tool sheds and greenhouse structures | 85,439 |
| 21 | Carbon monoxide poisoning (when source is unknown) | 62,865 |
| 22 | Scaffolding | 47,121 |
| 23 | Tree stands (hunting) | 40,904 |
| 24 | Glass bathtub or shower enclosures | 34,359 |
| 25 | Thermal or sound insulation materials | 23,647 |
| 26 | Automatic garage doors or door openers | 22,426 |
| 27 | Gas fumes or gas vapors of unknown origin | 20,219 |
| 28 | Automatic doors or door openers | 16,694 |
| 29 | Window screens | 13,552 |
| 30 | Wood paneling and particleboard | 13,205 |
| 31 | Mobile homes | 10,842 |
| 32 | Storm windows | 6,320 |
| 33 | Window or door security barriers | 4,911 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of CPSC NEISS data. Note: NEISS excludes products with injury estimates of less than 1,200 in the examined period.
When you consider the body parts most commonly injured by these home construction products, head/neck injuries led at 15.5 million. Next, injuries to the upper extremities totaled 9.8 million, followed closely by injuries to the lower extremities at 9.4 million.
Counters or countertops saw most significant injury increases
Despite the decline in overall home structure and construction material injury rates, some product categories saw increases — some more significantly than others. (Note: The products in the prior section are part of the categories included here.)
The four categories that experienced increases in injuries between 2014 and 2023 were:
- Counters or countertops (32.1%)
- Miscellaneous construction materials (29.2%)
- Cabinets and door hardware (27.9%)
- Home fires/carbon monoxide/gas vapors with unknown products (13.2%)
Quartz countertops, in particular, are causing increased concerns because of how they’re cut and ground, leading to irreversible lung damage. (NPR has more on the subject.)
Meanwhile, all other categories with available data saw a decrease in injuries over the 10 years.
Change in home structure and construction material injuries, 2014 to 2023 (by category)
| Rank | Category | Injuries, 2014 | Injuries, 2023 | % change in injuries, 2014 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Counters or countertops | 55,236 | 72,989 | 32.1% |
| 2 | Miscellaneous construction materials | 16,239 | 20,979 | 29.2% |
| 3 | Cabinets or door hardware | 19,078 | 24,407 | 27.9% |
| 4 | Home fires/carbon monoxide/gas vapors with unknown products | 22,574 | 25,556 | 13.2% |
| 5 | Window, doorsills, frames | 83,796 | 82,338 | -1.7% |
| 6 | Stairs, ramps, landings, floors | 2,780,177 | 2,725,029 | -2.0% |
| 7 | Outside unattached structures | 8,114 | 7,705 | -5.0% |
| 8 | Ceilings, walls, panels (inside) | 355,881 | 336,068 | -5.6% |
| 9 | Handrails, railings and banisters | 52,021 | 47,241 | -9.2% |
| 10 | Outside attached structures and materials | 23,314 | 20,668 | -11.3% |
| 11 | Fences | 117,830 | 99,859 | -15.3% |
| 12 | Automatic doors, openers | 4,403 | 3,696 | -16.1% |
| 13 | Nonglass doors and panels | 304,082 | 246,260 | -19.0% |
| 14 | Porches, openside floors, etc. | 149,998 | 112,997 | -24.7% |
| 15 | Glass doors, windows and panels | 132,917 | 95,743 | -28.0% |
| 16 | Insulation | 3,381 | 2,382 | -29.5% |
| 17 | Nails, carpet tacks, etc. | 120,629 | 82,478 | -31.6% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of CPSC NEISS data. Note: NEISS excludes categories with injury estimates of less than 1,200 in either examined period.
While the above is a breakdown by category, here’s a look at changes among the specific products.
Change in home structure and construction material injuries, 2014 to 2023 (by product)
| Rank | Product | Injuries, 2014 | Injuries, 2023 | % change in injuries, 2014 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General home or room involvement in fires | 13,127 | 17,604 | 34.1% |
| 2 | Counters or countertops | 55,236 | 72,989 | 32.1% |
| 3 | House repair or construction materials | 16,079 | 20,962 | 30.4% |
| 4 | Cabinet or door hardware | 19,078 | 24,407 | 27.9% |
| 5 | Ramps or landings | 17,085 | 21,412 | 25.3% |
| 6 | Scaffolding | 4,780 | 5,899 | 23.4% |
| 7 | Floors or flooring materials | 1,591,440 | 1,689,286 | 6.1% |
| 8 | Doorsills or frames | 63,043 | 66,112 | 4.9% |
| 9 | Glass bathtub or shower enclosures | 2,677 | 2,729 | 1.9% |
| 10 | Tool sheds and greenhouse structures | 8,114 | 7,705 | -5.0% |
| 11 | Ceilings and walls (interior part of completed structure) | 355,881 | 336,068 | -5.6% |
| 11 | Carbon monoxide poisoning (when source is unknown) | 6,204 | 5,855 | -5.6% |
| 13 | Garage doors (excluding automatic garage doors or openers) | 13,750 | 12,836 | -6.6% |
| 14 | Handrails, railings or banisters | 52,021 | 47,241 | -9.2% |
| 15 | Tree stands (hunting) | 4,506 | 4,007 | -11.1% |
| 16 | Automatic doors or door openers | 1,731 | 1,512 | -12.7% |
| 16 | Stairs or steps | 1,202,299 | 1,049,958 | -12.7% |
| 18 | Fences or fence posts | 117,830 | 99,859 | -15.3% |
| 19 | Automatic garage doors or door openers | 2,673 | 2,184 | -18.3% |
| 20 | Doors, other or not specified | 290,287 | 233,459 | -19.6% |
| 21 | Window sills or frames | 20,753 | 16,226 | -21.8% |
| 22 | Gutters, drainpipes, downspouts or runoff pipes | 9,755 | 7,426 | -23.9% |
| 23 | Porches, balconies, openside floors or floor openings | 149,998 | 112,997 | -24.7% |
| 24 | Glass doors or doors with glass panels | 27,247 | 19,573 | -28.2% |
| 25 | Windows and window glass, other than storm windows | 102,239 | 73,270 | -28.3% |
| 26 | Thermal or sound insulation materials | 3,381 | 2,382 | -29.5% |
| 27 | Nails, screws, carpet tacks or thumbtacks | 120,629 | 82,478 | -31.6% |
| 28 | Outdoor awnings or shutters | 3,160 | 2,020 | -36.1% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of CPSC NEISS data. Note: NEISS excludes products with injury estimates of less than 1,200 in either examined period.
“There are injury risks with each of these project types,” says Rob Bhatt, LendingTree home insurance expert and a licensed insurance agent. “It’s important to follow all relevant safety practices for any home improvement project.”
Learn more about how to get home improvement loans with no equity.
Oldest, youngest experience highest rate of related injuries
It’s interesting to note that home structure and construction material injuries are most common among older — and younger — age groups. From 2014 through 2023, people 80 and older had the highest rate of related injuries at 16.2%.
According to a report from the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General via the National Library of Medicine, poor structural designs and construction can increase the chances of older adults falling in their homes.
Those younger than 10 suffer the next highest rate of home structure and construction material injuries at 14.6%. Falls are also problematic for this age group. Going further, falls — which can often be attributed to home construction elements — are the most common cause of nonfatal emergency department visits for every age group from younger than 1 to 65-plus outside those ages 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Home structure and construction material injuries, 2014 to 2023 (by age)
| Age | Injuries | % of injuries |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 6,125,166 | 14.6% |
| 10 to 19 | 3,722,905 | 8.9% |
| 20 to 29 | 4,073,539 | 9.7% |
| 30 to 39 | 3,823,808 | 9.1% |
| 40 to 49 | 3,515,653 | 8.4% |
| 50 to 59 | 4,310,649 | 10.3% |
| 60 to 69 | 4,687,596 | 11.2% |
| 70 to 79 | 4,785,402 | 11.4% |
| 80 and older | 6,784,647 | 16.2% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of CPSC NEISS data.
With both age groups (80 and older and younger than 10), the same product — floors or flooring materials — led to the most injuries. Steps or stairs, however, led the way in injuries for every age group from 10 to 59.
Most common home structure and construction material injuries, 2014 to 2023 (by age)
| Age | Product | Total injuries |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | Floors or flooring materials | 6,125,166 |
| 10 to 19 | Stairs or steps | 3,722,905 |
| 20 to 29 | Stairs or steps | 4,073,539 |
| 30 to 39 | Stairs or steps | 3,823,808 |
| 40 to 49 | Stairs or steps | 3,515,653 |
| 50 to 59 | Stairs or steps | 4,310,649 |
| 60 to 69 | Floors or flooring materials | 4,687,596 |
| 70 to 79 | Floors or flooring materials | 4,785,402 |
| 80 and older | Floors or flooring materials | 6,784,647 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of CPSC NEISS data.
Biggest injury disparity between men, women: Tree stands
With certain home structure and construction material products, there was a meaningful difference in the injury rates between men and women.
From 2014 through 2023, 91.9% of tree stand injuries were to men, versus 8.1% to women — a difference of 83.8 percentage points. According to a 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey, men account for 77% of hunters, while women make up 22%.
Scaffolding followed close behind at 89.2% among men and 10.8% among women — a difference of 78.4 percentage points. Meanwhile, the products in which women experienced the biggest discrepancy in injuries were automatic doors or door openers, at 63.9% (women) versus 36.1% (men).
% difference in home structure and construction material injuries by gender, 2014 to 2023 (by product)
| Rank | Product | % of injuries, men | % of injuries, women | % point difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tree stands (hunting) | 91.9% | 8.1% | 83.8 percentage points |
| 2 | Scaffolding | 89.2% | 10.8% | 78.4 percentage points |
| 3 | House repair or construction materials | 81.5% | 18.5% | 63.0 percentage points |
| 4 | Thermal or sound insulation materials | 80.7% | 19.3% | 61.4 percentage points |
| 5 | Gutters, drainpipes, downspouts or runoff pipes | 76.1% | 23.9% | 52.2 percentage points |
| 6 | Wood paneling and particleboard | 72.3% | 27.7% | 44.6 percentage points |
| 7 | Tool sheds | 69.7% | 30.3% | 39.4 percentage points |
| 8 | Nails, screws, carpet tacks or thumbtacks | 68.7% | 31.3% | 37.4 percentage points |
| 9 | Mobile homes | 67.1% | 32.9% | 34.2 percentage points |
| 10 | Fences or fence posts | 66.9% | 33.1% | 33.8 percentage points |
| 11 | Window or door security barriers | 65.3% | 34.7% | 30.6 percentage points |
| 12 | Automatic garage doors or door openers | 63.8% | 36.2% | 27.6 percentage points |
| 13 | Window screens | 62.9% | 37.1% | 25.8 percentage points |
| 14 | Windows and window glass, other than storm windows | 61.7% | 38.3% | 23.4 percentage points |
| 15 | Garage doors (excluding automatic garage doors or openers) | 61.5% | 38.5% | 23.0 percentage points |
| 16 | Ceilings and walls (interior part of completed structure) | 55.3% | 44.7% | 10.6 percentage points |
| 17 | Window sills or frames | 54.9% | 45.1% | 9.8 percentage points |
| 18 | Storm windows | 53.6% | 46.4% | 7.2 percentage points |
| 19 | Glass doors or doors with glass panels | 52.5% | 47.5% | 5.0 percentage points |
| 20 | General home or room involvement in fires | 51.9% | 48.1% | 3.8 percentage points |
| 21 | Handrails, railings or banisters | 50.4% | 49.6% | 0.8 percentage points |
| 22 | Porches, balconies, openside floors or floor openings | 48.0% | 52.0% | -4.0 percentage points |
| 23 | Cabinet or door hardware | 47.2% | 52.8% | -5.6 percentage points |
| 24 | Ramps or landings | 46.8% | 53.2% | -6.4 percentage points |
| 25 | Doors, other or not specified | 45.7% | 54.3% | -8.6 percentage points |
| 26 | Counters or countertops | 45.3% | 54.7% | -9.4 percentage points |
| 27 | Glass bathtub or shower enclosures | 43.4% | 56.6% | -13.2 percentage points |
| 28 | Doorsills or frames | 42.3% | 57.7% | -15.4 percentage points |
| 29 | Carbon monoxide poisoning (when source is unknown) | 40.4% | 59.6% | -19.2 percentage points |
| 30 | Gas fumes or gas vapors of unknown origin | 40.1% | 59.9% | -19.8 percentage points |
| 31 | Floors or flooring materials | 39.3% | 60.7% | -21.4 percentage points |
| 32 | Stairs or steps | 38.9% | 61.1% | -22.2 percentage points |
| 33 | Automatic doors or door openers | 36.1% | 63.9% | -27.8 percentage points |
Source: LendingTree analysis of CPSC NEISS data.
3 things to know when someone is injured on your property
As a homeowner, you should make every effort to ensure your property is secure for anyone who visits you. Keeping your property free from potential hazards is a responsibility you should take seriously for the safety of others.
But you should also work to keep your property safe for your financial security. If someone is injured at your home, the consequences could be expensive.
Of course, accidents can still happen despite your best efforts. If someone is hurt on your property, here are some suggested steps you may want to take.
- Seek medical attention: Be sure anyone injured on your property gets the medical attention they need. Call an ambulance if necessary or provide them with a ride to the nearest emergency room or urgent care for medical care.
- Document the incident: After the injured person has received the care they need, make detailed notes about the incident. Take pictures of the scene and record the date and time along with information on what happened. “This is also a good time to contact your insurance company to inquire about a claim,” Bhatt says. “You should emphasize the word ‘inquire’ to avoid opening a claim before you need to. But if the injuries are severe, your insurance company may need to investigate the incident immediately.”
- Find out your coverage details: Ask your insurance company about your coverage details for injuries on your property. “Most home and renters policies include $1,000 in guest medical coverage, and some policies have higher limits,” Bhatt says. “If the injured person’s medical costs exceed your guest medical limit, it may turn into a liability claim. And most home and renters policies include at least $100,000 in personal liability coverage.”
As a homeowner, having the right type of insurance and the right amount of coverage can help protect your finances. If someone ever gets injured on your property — from home structure and construction materials or some other cause — you could be at risk for higher insurance rates from an insurance claim and a lawsuit, too.
“We live in a litigious society,” Bhatt says. “It’s important to have enough personal liability coverage to protect your finances from situations like this. Injuries can happen at your home when you least expect it. And the costs of dealing with these injuries can potentially devastate your finances.”
Methodology
LendingTree researchers analyzed U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data to find the number of home structure and construction material injuries treated in emergency departments.
Researchers examined various periods between 2014 and 2023, breaking down the data by year, product, category, age and gender.
Note that NEISS doesn’t include data for a selected period if the injury estimate is less than 1,200.