Remodelers at Risk for Fatal Falls

Residential remodeling is among the top three segments of residential construction to have workers suffer fatal injuries on the job, according to NAHB’s “Residential Construction Industry Fatalities 2003-2006” report.

The safety study evaluated the 1,385 work-related deaths that were reported in residential construction from 2003 to 2006.
Single-family housing construction workers ranked highest, with roofing contractors the next most likely to be fatally injured.
Nearly one-half of residential construction fatalities resulted from falls, and residential remodelers accounted for the third highest segment in the industry to have workers die from falls on the job. Fatal falls were most often from a roof, ladder and scaffolding.

Length of industry service also related to fatalities, with 47 percent of those fatally injured on the job employed with the company for less than one year.

The results suggest that the amount and quality of training influences fatality rates — with less experienced workers and workers with less training at greater risk of accidents and falls.

Remodeling fatalities data has been separated from residential building for the first time in the report, thanks to changes in the collection of government data. However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not track self-employed remodelers, who comprise the majority of the industry. Self-employed remodeling fatality data is collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is then combined with the OSHA data.

Home Prices

Declines Continue in First Quarter

Standard & Poor’s S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices recorded a 14.1 percent decline in the first quarter of 2008 vs. the first quarter of 2007, the largest in the series’ 20-year history.

As a comparison, during the 1990-91 housing recession the annual rate bottomed at -2.8 percent. The 10-city and 20-city composites also set new records, with annual declines of -15.3 percent and -14.4 percent, respectively.

Most of the nation appears to remain on a downward path, with 19 of the 20 metro areas reporting annual declines, and six of those now at negative rates exceeding -20 percent. Fifteen of the metro areas are also reporting record lows, and 11 are in double-digit decline, with Chicago being the latest metro area to join these ranks.

The monthly data paints a similar picture, with 18 of the metro areas reporting at least seven consecutive months of negative returns.

For the first time in as many months, monthly price appreciation was up in two metro areas; Charlotte was up 0.2 percent in March over February, and Dallas was up 1.1 percent.

Las Vegas remains the weakest market, reporting an annual decline of -25.9 percent, followed by Miami and Phoenix at -24.6 percent and -23.0 percent, respectively.

Immigration Law

E-Verify Rule Challenged

A U.S. district judge ruled in June that sections in Oklahoma’s new immigration law likely interfere with federal rules regarding the hiring of unauthorized workers. The judge specifically addressed provisions that were to have taken effect July 1 and would have required employers doing business with the state of Oklahoma to use E-Verify to electronically verify worker eligibility.

Among those challenging the provision were the United States Chamber of Commerce, several city and state chambers of commerce, and hospitality industry associations, which contended the law places unreasonable burdens on businesses.

Existing-home Sales

Slow with Some Gains

Overall, existing-home sales slowed in April, partly because restrictive lending practices hampered home buyers, but at the same time, a greater number of areas are showing sales gains from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

In addition, a recent reversal in mortgage policy means the market is better positioned for a turnaround, the association said.
Existing-home sales — including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops — declined 1.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units in April from an upwardly revised pace of 4.94 million in March, and are 17.5 percent below the 5.93 million-unit level in April 2007.