Construction Laborers

Laborers do a little of everything: cleanup, demolition, concrete, trenching, flagging, material handling and helping every trade. That means facing nearly every hazard on the site, often as a newer worker.

• Construction

Top hazards

• Struck by equipment and vehicles. See Struck-By.
• Trench cave-ins. See Trenching.
• Falls from edges, holes, ladders and scaffolds
• Silica and other dusts during cleanup and demo
• Strains from lifting and shoveling. See Shovels.
• Heat and cold stress
• Traffic in work zones while flagging

Key practices

• Ask before using any tool or machine you haven’t been trained on.
• Never enter a trench without a protective system or walk under suspended loads.
• Keep hole covers and guardrails in place, and report missing ones.
• Clean up with wet methods or HEPA vacuums, not dry sweeping.
• Use carts and machines to move material.
• Speak up: you have the right to stop unsafe work. See Stop-Work Authority.

Why laborers get hurt

Laborers move from task to task and site to site, often without the specialized training each trade gets. Many are new to construction, and some don’t speak the same language as the supervisor. They are frequently the ones closest to the equipment, the trench or the traffic.

Common tasks and where to learn more

Your rights

• Training in a language and vocabulary you understand. See Multilingual Crews.
• Required PPE paid for by the employer in most cases.
• Pay for all hours worked, including overtime. See Wage Theft.
• Protection from retaliation for reporting hazards or injuries. See Worker Rights.
• Temporary and staffing agency workers have the same safety rights. See Temp Workers.

Start-of-day checklist

• I know today’s tasks and who my supervisor is
• I’ve been trained on the tools I’ll use
• Hard hat, glasses, hi-vis, gloves and boots on
• I know where equipment is working and how to stay visible
• I know where water, first aid and the restroom are

Last updated: October 1, 2026