Workplace Injury Statistics

Key Workplace Injury Statistics 2026

Every year, millions of American workers are hurt while doing their jobs. While many are able to make a full recovery, this isn’t the case for everyone.

In some situations, workplace injuries can have devastating impacts, leading to long-term disability or even death among those trying to make an honest living.

Learn more about the latest workplace injury statistics in the United States:

• Someone died from a work-related injury every 104 minutes in 2024, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
• Transportation incidents remain the most frequent type of fatal workplace event, accounting for 38.2% of all occupational deaths.
• The total cost of treating workplace accidents was $181.4 Billion for 2024, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
• There were 4,337 preventable workplace deaths in 2024 alone, per the NSC.
• At least 3.95 million people had work-related injuries that required medical attention.
• The average workers’ compensation claim cost was approximately. $47,316, as noted by the NSC.

Any occupation could put workers in danger, with some of the highest-risk jobs being construction, transportation, agriculture, and mining, per the NSC.

If you or a loved one was hurt on the job, you may be entitled to compensation. Our workplace injury lawyers have helped families across the country pursue justice for over 45 years.

U.S. Workplace Fatality Statistics

Workplace deaths in the U.S. remain a serious public health issue. In 2024, 4,337 people died from workplace-related injuries that could have been prevented, as noted by the NSC.

For every worker who dies on the job, families are left behind to cope with grief, medical bills, lost income, and funeral expenses.

Find out more about workplace fatality statistics in the U.S.:

• There were 5,070 fatal work injuries in 2024, a 4% decrease from 5,283 in 2023, per the BLS.
• Men accounted for nearly 92% of all worker fatalities in 2024, while women accounted for 8%.
• Hispanic or Latino workers had a fatal injury rate of 4.3 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024 — higher than the national average.
• 624 Black or African American workers died from work-related injuries in 2024, at a rate of 3.4 per 100,000 FTE workers.
• Between 12,000 and 15,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma annually, per the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Millions were exposed to asbestos at their jobs, per the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
• The agriculture, fishing, and hunting sector had the highest rates of fatal workplace accidents, with 20.9 deaths per every 100,000 workers, as noted by the NSC.
• 844 fatal workplace accidents in 2024 involved falls or slips per the BLS. In 10.8% of cases, workers fell from heights greater than 30 feet to their deaths.
• The risk of a fatal workplace accident steadily increases with age, as noted by BLS data, peaking for those aged 55 to 64. Around 36.5% of those who died on the job were aged 55 or older.
• Heat killed 530 American workers in 2024, according to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
• Approximately 135,000 workers die from occupational-related illnesses, per the AFL-CIO.

When a worker loses their life on the job, the loss is devastating to loved ones, friends, and coworkers. If workplace negligence led to a preventable injury or illness, we may be able to help families pursue compensation and closure.

Types of Workplace Accidents

Workplace injuries can happen almost anywhere, including accidents on construction sites, in warehouses, while driving, or even in offices.

Some accidents are caused by a single moment of negligence, while others result from years of unsafe practices that put workers at risk.

The most common causes of fatal workplace injuries in 2024 included:

1. Transportation incidents: 1,938 deaths (38.2% of all fatalities)
2. Falls, slips, and trips: 844 deaths (16.6%)
3. Contact with objects and equipment: 756 deaths (14.9%)
4. Violence and other injuries by persons: 733 deaths (14.5%)
5. Exposure to harmful substances or environments: 687 deaths (13.5%)
6. Fires and explosions: 93 deaths (1.8%)

Together, transportation and falls account for more than half of all workplace deaths in America. Yet in both of these categories, fatalities are often preventable with proper safety protocols, training, and equipment.

Transportation Accident Statistics

Transportation-related incidents are the leading cause of work-related deaths year after year, according to the BLS.

When something goes wrong while operating a car, truck, boat, or plane, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic, leading to long-term disability or loss of life.

Important workplace transportation accident statistics include:

• Roadway incidents involving vehicles accounted for 1,146 fatalities in 2024, per the BLS.
• 798 commercial truck or tractor-trailer drivers died in 2024 alone, per the BLS.
• Motor-vehicle crashes result in the most costly lost-time workers' compensation claims, averaging out to $100,000 per lost-time claim, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI).
• Transportation accidents where pedestrians were involved increased 19% to 369 fatalities in 2024. 61 deaths occurred when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in a road work area.
• The fatality rate for transportation workers was 12.5 per 100,000 FTE workers in 2024. This was nearly 4 times the national average.
• Marine transportation workers have a fatality rate nearly 5 times greater than the typical worker, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• There were 36 fatal rail accidents in 2024 and 109 deadly aircraft incidents, according to the most recent railroad worker injury statistics.

When a worker is killed or seriously hurt in a transportation accident on the job, fault often lies with a third party like another driver, a trucking company, or a vehicle manufacturer.

In these cases, it may be possible for workers to pursue personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits on top of workers' compensation claims.

Workplace Fall Injury Statistics

Falls are the leading killer in construction, accounting for 33% of deaths, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Additionally, falling is one of the most common workplace injuries across every industry.

Falls often happen from heights while working on roofs, ladders, or scaffolding. In other cases, slips and falls occur on level surfaces that haven't been properly maintained.

Find out more about workplace fall injury statistics:

• 844 workers died from falls, slips, or trips in 2024, per the BLS. 10.8% of those fatalities resulted from a worker falling from a height of over 30 feet.
• Construction workers had the highest number of fatalities from falls at 49% across the nation, per the CDC.
• Fall protection has been OSHA's most frequently cited workplace safety violation for 14 consecutive years, with 6,307 citations in 2024.
• Slips and falls cost employers an average of $54,499 per workers' compensation claim, according to NCCI.
• Loggers had the highest rate of fatal work injuries for 2024 at 110.4 deaths per 100,000. Loggers may be at risk of falling from trees or slipping on uneven surfaces due to the nature of their work.
• Roofers had the third-highest rate of fatalities at 48.7 deaths per 100,000. Roofing inherently comes with a risk of falling.

“Many workers who experience a fall that doesn’t result in a fatality can suffer a serious, life-altering injury, while others can recover. The more times or the longer a worker works at height without proper fall protection systems in place, the greater the likelihood they will experience a fall.”
– Scott Ketcham, OSHA Director of Enforcement Programs

Workers expected and deserved safe working conditions, including precautions to protect them from falls. When a fall leads to serious injury, disability, or death, those impacted may be able to take legal action to get support.

Call (800) 995-1212 now to find out more about your legal options if you suffered a serious workplace fall.

Struck-By and Caught-In Accidents on the Job

When workers are struck by or caught in objects or equipment like heavy machinery, the injuries are often severe or fatal. These accidents are especially common in the construction, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.

In fact, contact-related injuries are the third largest cause of workplace deaths, according to the NSC.

Notable struck-by and caught-in statistics include:

• 756 workers died in 2024 from contact with objects and equipment, as noted by the NSC.
• Accidents in which workers were caught in machinery or other objects resulted in average workers' compensation costs of $47,749 per claim.
• Machine guarding violations ranked as OSHA's 10th most-cited standard in 2024, with 1,541 citations.
• 12.6% of workplace deaths were related to contact with machinery, equipment, or other objects, per the CDC.
• 106,000 workplace injuries were the result of struck-by or caught-in accidents, as noted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Struck-by and caught-in injuries often involve equipment made by a third-party manufacturer. In these cases, injured workers may potentially have a product liability claim in addition to their workers' compensation benefits.

Workplace Violence

Workplace violence is a growing concern, particularly in occupations related to health care, retail, and protective services like police work.

Homicides and assaults on the job account for thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths annually. In fact, up to 500 people are killed while working as a result of firearms, per a Boston College study.

Notable workplace violence statistics include:

• 733 workers died from violent acts in 2024, including 470 homicides and 263 suicides.
• Women accounted for 15.3% of all workplace homicide victims in 2024, despite making up just 8.1% of overall workplace fatalities.
• Homicides accounted for 34.5% of fatalities among protective service occupations in 2024.
• Thanks to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) programs used to reduce business robberies, related workplace injuries decreased by 61% according to NIOSH.
• Nearly 80% of fatal workplace shootings were considered homicides, according to Boston College.

Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from foreseeable violence. When they fail to provide adequate security, training, or staffing, they could potentially be held liable for the harm that results.

“Nearly every workplace homicide is preventable. There is no reason why someone should ever be killed by another person at work.”
– Erika Sabbath, Boston College School of Social Work Assistant Professor

Workplace Chemical Exposure

Workers across the country have risked toxic chemical exposure involving materials like asbestos, firefighting foam, benzene, and many more, leading to life-threatening health consequences such as cancer.

Because illnesses caused by these toxic exposures often take decades to appear, many workers who get sick today are only now connecting the dots to a job they held decades ago.

Find out more about chemical workplace exposure statistics:

• 687 workers died in 2024 from exposure to harmful substances or environments.
• Drug or alcohol overdoses on the job accounted for 410 fatalities in 2024, making up 59.7% of deaths.
• Nearly 40,000 Americans die annually from asbestos diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer, many caused by occupational exposure, according to the International Commission on Public Health (ICOH).
• It’s believed 272,300 workers risked exposure to benzene, a cancer-causing substance, in a single 2-year period, according to the journal Chemical Agents and Related Occupations.
• In a study of 1,960 frontline workers or first responders, firefighters had the highest levels of PFAS in their blood. PFAS are a dangerous group of cancer-causing “forever chemicals” often found in firefighting foam (AFFF).
• Roundup^® (glyphosate) manufacturer Bayer has paid over $11 Billion to date to resolve claims that their weed killer caused cancer. Many were exposed to Roundup through jobs like farming, groundskeeping, and agriculture.
• The herbicide Gramoxone^® (paraquat) has been shown to increase the odds of Parkinson’s disease by 250%, as noted by the Environmental Working Group. Those commonly exposed to paraquat include landscapers and farmers.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a serious cancer decades after working around toxic chemicals at their job, you may be able to pursue justice and financial compensation.

Common Types of Work Injuries Statistics

There were 2.4 million nonfatal injuries in workplaces across America in 2024 alone, according to the BLS. Employees could potentially suffer any number of serious injuries that cause them to miss days away from work.

Explore some of the most common work-related injuries and the numbers behind them below.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Any of these injuries could have catastrophic consequences for workers and their families. In addition, when workers’ compensation claims are denied, it can mean those who were hurt don’t get the money they deserve to support their recovery.

Demographics & Workplace Injury Statistics

Not all workers run the same risk of workplace injuries. Many unique demographic factors, including age, gender, race, and immigration status, influence a worker's risk of being hurt or killed on the job.

Find out more about workplace injury statistics by worker demographics:

• In 2024, men accounted for 91.9% of all U.S. workplace fatalities, according to the BLS, despite making up 53% of the workforce, per the Partnership for Public Service.
• Hispanic or Latino workers had a fatal injury rate of 4.3 per 100,000 FTE workers, which was higher than the national average of 3.3.
• 68.5% of Hispanic or Latino worker fatalities in 2024 occurred among those not born in the United States.
• Workers ages 55 and older accounted for 36.5% of workplace deaths per BLS data as of 2024, with fatality rates generally increasing with age groups.
• Women face a disproportionate share of workplace violence deaths, accounting for 15.3% of workplace homicides while making up just 8.1% of overall workplace fatalities, per the BLS.

At Sokolove Law, we work to even the playing field for anyone harmed by workplace injuries. Our attorneys may be able to help your family recover financial compensation after being hurt at work.

Statistics on the Most Dangerous Industries in America

While anyone can be hurt on the job, some industries carry far greater risks than others. Workers in physically demanding fields like construction or agriculture could be put in danger from heavy machinery, hazardous chemicals, and unsafe heights.

Even jobs that may not come to mind as inherently more dangerous, such as working in performing arts or business, still pose a risk of injury or even death.

The industries with the highest fatality rates and injury counts include:

• Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting: Historically, this is the industry with the highest fatal injury rate, often exceeding 20 deaths per 100,000 workers.
• Construction: There were 988 fatalities in 2024, accounting for 22.7% of all workplace deaths, according to NSC data.
• Performing arts: Those working for performing arts companies had the highest rates of nonfatal injuries, sitting at 11.3 per 100 full-time employees, as noted by BLS data.
• Transportation: This industry had both the second-highest fatalities at 1.8% and the second-highest rate of workplace fatalities at 11.1 per 100,000 workers.

Below, explore more statistics related to American industries with the highest rates of injuries and fatalities.

Top 10 Deadliest American Industries

Workplace deaths are spread across a broad range of job sectors in the U.S., with construction sites, transportation, business, and agriculture among the deadliest.

Even industries like government work and hospitality have recorded high fatality rates, with hundreds of people losing their lives every year in these sectors.

Source: National Safety Council (2024)

More consistent safety standards and practices can potentially help to reduce the rates of deaths across all workplaces, giving workers and their families more peace of mind.

Top 10 Industries with the Highest Workplace Injury Rates

Many of the occupations that have the highest rates of injuries involve physical labor or hands-on work. It’s easy for working conditions to become unsafe without the right precautions.

Additionally, these roles may involve interacting with potentially dangerous people, animals, and machinery, all of which increase the risk of injury.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

There’s a risk of getting hurt or dying no matter which industry you work in. At Sokolove Law, we can help you explore your options after a workplace injury. Call (800) 995-1212 now to learn more.

Workplace Injury Statistics by State

Workplace fatality rates vary dramatically from state to state, with factors like which industries are more prevalent, the size of any state’s overall population, the severity of worker protections, and more all affecting working conditions.

Generally, smaller Northeastern states like Rhode Island tend to have lower rates of workplace deaths, while states with larger populations overall tend to see higher death rates.

Here’s what to know about workplace injury statistics by state:

• The top 5 states with the highest rates of employer-reported, nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses are Maine, Vermont, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, according to the BLS (not all states participate in this reporting).
• The states with the highest number of employer-reported, nonfatal work injuries and illnesses are California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
• The top 5 states with the highest rates of workplace deaths are Wyoming, Mississippi, Alaska, North Dakota, and Arkansas, according to the AFL-CIO.
• The top 5 safest states (ones with the lowest rates of workplace deaths) were Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Delaware, and Vermont.
• The 5 states with the highest overall workplace deaths were Texas, California, Florida, New York, and North Carolina.
• Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Hawaii were the states with the 5 lowest numbers of workplace deaths for 2024.

Explore the data below to find out how your state ranks and learn how to get support if a workplace accident led to serious injury or death.

States with the Highest Workplace Fatality Rates

Several neighboring states in the Northwest, including Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana, round out the top 10 states with the highest rates of on-the-job deaths. Similarly, the chain of states from Missouri down to Arkansas all made the list.

Many of these states have strong ties to high-risk occupations like mining, construction, commercial fishing, and transportation.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Wyoming has consistently reported the highest rates of workplace deaths out of any other state since 2007, according to BLS data.

There were only 3 years between 2007 and 2024 when Wyoming wasn’t the state with the highest death rate. Montana had a higher rate in 2009, while Alaska reported the highest rates in 2017 and 2019.

States with the Lowest Workplace Fatality Rates

The majority of states with the lowest rates of on-the-job fatalities are concentrated in the Northeast, with only California, Nevada, and Nebraska as outliers.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Rhode Island’s workplace fatality rate is consistently the lowest of all 50 states, having never exceeded 2.0 per 100,000 since 2007, per the BLS.

Top 10 States with the Highest Workplace Deaths

While fatality rates show how dangerous a state is per worker, the total number of workplace deaths is often higher in more populated states.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

In 2024, Texas, California, and Florida accounted for 24.8% of all workplace fatalities, according to BLS data. Only North Carolina ranks among the top 10 states for both overall reported deaths and highest death rates.

Top 10 States with Lowest Workplace Deaths

Half of the states with the lowest occupational workplace deaths are in the Northeast, including 4 out of the top 5. A third of the list is made up of Midwestern states, namely Nebraska and the Dakotas.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Despite having some of the highest death rates per capita, Alaska and North Dakota both rank among the top 10 lowest states when looking at the number of fatalities. Their rankings reflect the ratio of deaths per overall population.

Workers' Compensation & Workplace Injury Lawsuit Statistics

In most states, workers' compensation is provided by your employer. However, you may be able to file a workplace injury lawsuit for a personal injury if a third party, defective product, or toxic substance caused or contributed to your health issues.

In many cases, injured workers and their families may be entitled to additional compensation by working with workers’ compensation lawyers to file legal claims.

Important workers' compensation and workplace injury statistics include:

• The average cost of a workers' compensation claim was $47,316 for 2022-2023, per the NSC.
• Motor-vehicle crashes resulted in the highest average workers' compensation claim costs at $91,433, followed by burns at $64,973 and falls or slips at $54,499.
• California has the highest weekly workers’ compensation payout rate at $1,764.11 for 2026, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
• Georgia pays the lowest amount of weekly workers’ compensation at just $800 for 2026, per the SSA.
• The most expensive workers’ compensation claim by type of injury involved loss of limbs, which were valued at $125,058 on average for 2022-2023.
• Trauma claims, the second-most expensive claim type, were a little more than half that at $68,231 on average.

Even in states and situations where maximum workers’ compensation could be awarded, it still might not be enough to cover all of the expenses a person faces. Additionally, some insurance companies may try to wrongfully deny valid workers’ compensation claims.

At Sokolove Law, we’ve recovered more than $10.5 Billion for families all over the country, including those harmed by workplace accidents. Contact us now.

Statistics on Workplace Accident Settlements and Verdicts

While every case is unique and there’s no guarantee, our attorneys have recovered significant compensation for many past clients hurt on the job through settlements and verdicts.

Most personal injury lawsuits involving workplace accidents settle, allowing families to get a payout without the hassle of going to trial.

Workplace accident settlements and verdicts we’ve secured include:

• $40.1 Million to a veteran with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure during service
• $2 Million to a worker who needed surgeries after falling off a forklift
• $804,000 to a driver who needed back surgery
• $500,000 to a nurse who suffered a dislocated ankle
• $1.15 Million to a worker hurt on the job
• $500,000 to a worker bitten by a dog
• $11.49 Million to a demolition worker with mesothelioma
• $840,000 to a worker who was injured at their job
• $750,000 to a laborer who was hit by a truck while working
• $1 Million to a man who suffered a workplace injury
• $9.6 Million to a construction worker with mesothelioma
• $1.42 Million to a man who suffered from a serious workplace injury

While there are never any guarantees of compensation, our team may be able to fight to secure a workplace accident payout on your behalf. Call (800) 995-1212 now to learn more.

Fighting for Workers Hurt On the Job

Workplace injuries can leave families struggling with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and an uncertain future. Workers' compensation isn't always enough.

In many cases, you may have the right to pursue additional compensation through a work injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

At Sokolove Law, we've spent over 45 years standing up to negligent companies, recovering more than $10.5 Billion total for thousands of clients nationwide.

Call (800) 995-1212 right now or fill out our contact form to find out if our work injury lawyers may be able to help your family.