Iron and Steel Workers

Structural ironworkers and steel erectors record fatality rates between 25 and 40 per 100,000, assembling the skeletons of skyscrapers, bridges, and industrial plants at extreme heights. Falls from unguarded beams, being struck by swinging crane loads, burns from welding sparks, and electrocution from proximity to energized equipment are the primary killers. The United States, China, and Japan have the largest ironworker populations, with China's construction boom creating persistent safety enforcement challenges.