A set of new interactive maps from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) vividly illustrates the number of construction industry fatalities that occur each year in the U.S.

Individual maps pinpoint fatalities for 2011 and 2012 (ytd), and fatalities caused by falls for those years as well.

Clicking on a pinpoint turns the graphic from a statistic into a real -- albeit unnamed -- person and yields such information as the date of death, location, employer name and how the fatality occurred.

From one of the maps:

The maps are part of a national campaign to prevent falls in construction through a government-labor-management partnership including CPWR, NIOSH, OSHA, state government, private industry, trade associations, academia, professional and labor organizations. CPWR is the research and training arm of the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD).

Falls are the leading cause of death among construction workers and cause the second-highest number of injuries.A construction worker dies in a fall accident almost every working day. In 2010, 255 workers died and more than 10,000 were injured.

The goal of the campaign is to prevent fatal falls from roofs, ladders and scaffolds by encouraging residential construction contractors to plan ahead to get the job done safely; provide the right equipment; and train everyone to use the equipment safely.

The website, www.stopconstructionfalls.com, links to numerous awareness, action and training resources.