Dive summary:

• Last year, preliminary numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show, more construction workers died—775—than the year before and the rate of fatal accidents among workers rose, too—9.5 per 100,000 full-time-equivalent workers.
• The rate per 100,000 workers is supposed to smooth out fluctuations in the number of workers, whether down during the recession or up in the budding recovery, so the rise from 9.1 in 2011 is not due to how much building was going on.
• In 2011, there were 738 accidental deaths, and the increase last year breaks a six-year trend toward fewer deaths each year.

From the article:

The construction results run counter to the overall national picture for 2012. BLS reported that total fatal workplace injuries decreased 6.6% last year, to 4,383. The all-industry fatality rate also improved, to 3.2 per 100,000 workers from 3.5 in 2011. ...