There were 24 construction worker fatalities in Michigan in 2006 - an increase of one-third over the 16 Hardhats who died on the job in 2005.

The causes for the fatalities were led, as usual, by falls. There were eight in 2006, followed by five struck-bys, and cave-ins, electrocutions, and caught-bys (three each). Two died following explosions.

"Falls, electrocutions, struck-bys and caught-bys are usually at the top of the list for construction fatalities," said MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Supervisor Tony Allam. "Those are areas that we constantly stress in our seminars and safety presentations before workers and employers."

The increase in fatalities from 2005 to 2006 was significant - but the 24 deaths last year were more in line with the average. In recent years in Michigan, the single-year high was 37 construction worker fatalities in 1997. Before 16 Hardhats died on the job in 2005, the most recent low fatality count for a single year was 17 in 1995.

In the 1960s, before MIOSHA was instituted, an average of 44 Michigan construction workers were killed on the job every year.