News Brief: Work-related Fatalities Declined in 2023

There were 5,283 fatal work-related injuries recorded in the U.S. in 2023, 3.7 percent less than in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among key findings from the bureau’s census of fatal occupational injuries:

• There were 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
• A worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury.
• Transportation incidents were the most common cause of death.
• Violent acts were identified as the cause of 740 fatalities.
• Opioids were the primary source of 162 fatalities and a factor in 144 deaths.
• Fatality rates among Black or African American workers decreased by 10.2 percent.

Doug Parker, assistant secretary of labor responsible for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), attributed the decline in fatalities to a “worker-centered approach of stronger enforcement combined with numerous collaborations with employers and labor to embrace health and safety as core values.” Nevertheless, he added, “every worker’s death is a profound tragedy that leaves a lasting void for families, friends, co-workers, and communities. We can and we must do better.”

Earlier this month, OSHA released 2023 data on more than 890,000 workplace injuries and illnesses at 91,000 workplaces. The records, including incident-level details on contributing factors, are intended to be used by employers, employees, public health officials, and other stakeholders to identify injury and illness trends and develop preventive measures. OSHA redacted personally identifiable information to help protect the privacy of injured or ill workers.

WorkCare’s team of occupational health professionals helps employers implement solutions to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Learn more.