WASHINGTON -- A new report out Tuesday paints a picture of a construction industry rampant with dangerous and sometimes illegal working conditions in Texas.

The report shows that in 2007, 142 construction workers died in Texas, more than any other state in the country. California ranked second highest with 81 – about half as many – deaths.

Released by the Austin-based Workers Defense Project, the report "Building Austin, Building Injustice," focuses on the state capital but also reveals some statewide trends.

Two-thirds of the more than 300 construction workers surveyed said they didn't receive basic safety training before getting on the worksite.

"It's illegal not to train your workers," said Ross Eisenbrey, an economist at the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute. "You can't be a construction employer and send a person into a work site without training. That's against the law!"

The report also found that violations of workplace regulations are routine and often go unnoticed due to a lack of inspectors. The workers surveyed reported seeing no federal inspectors at their work sites.

Eisenbrey said that with no inspectors breathing down their necks, construction companies can take advantage of their workers, especially because Texas does not require employers to provide workers compensation.

"They don't feel the bottom line impact of their workers being hurt," said Eisenbrey. "They're not paying for the workers' time off from work. They're not paying for the medical costs. It isn't murder but it's negligent homicide."

Industry representatives are disputing the report's findings.

According to the Associated General Contractors of America, safety is a top priority, so it provides a full-time safety director to visit work sites and offer classes.

"We do our best to make our safety services widely available to our members," said Phil Thoden, present of the organization's Austin chapter. "Whether or not people take advantage of safety training is a different matter."

Beyond the safety concerns, some argue that the public is picking up the tab for low construction wages and lack of workers compensation.

Eisenbrey explains that an injured construction without health insurance or workers compensation will seek emergency care at the hospital; this, in turn, ends up raising everyone's health insurance costs.

In addition, when workers are denied overtime pay, Eisenbrey says we end up being robbed, too.

"What does that do? That reduces the tax base because those employees not being paid more aren't paying the taxes that would go along with higher earnings," said Eisenbrey.

The report adds that low-wage workers also depend heavily on the government to make ends meet, draining needed tax revenue.

The report's release comes less than a week after three men died at a high-rise construction site in Austin.

You can see the full report by clicking here.