Work Safety Introduction

The number of preventable work deaths increased 5% in 2022, totaling 4,695. In addition to preventable fatal work injuries, 791 homicides and suicides occurred in the workplace in 2022. These intentional injuries are not included in the preventable-injury estimates.

The large increase in preventable work deaths in 2022 is partially a result of a 3.4% increase in hours worked, however, other variables also contributed to this increase in work deaths. The preventable injury death rate of 3.2 per 100,000 workers is up from 3.1 in 2021. Work-related medically consulted injuries totaled 4.53 million in 2022.

2022 Occupational Safety Highlights

Preventable injury-related deaths 4,695
Preventable injury-related deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers 3.2
Medically consulted injuries 4,530,000
Workers 159,379
Costs  Not yet available

Source: Deaths reflect National Safety Council (NSC) analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). All other figures are NSC estimates based on data from BLS.

In 2022, the industry sector experiencing the largest number of preventable fatal injuries was construction, followed by transportation and warehousing. The industry sector experiencing the highest fatality rates per 100,000 workers was agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, followed by mining.

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  • Data Table
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  • Data Table

Preventable injuries at work by industry, United States, 2022

Industry division
Hours worked(a) (millions)
Deaths(a) Deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers(a) Medically consulted injuries
2022
Change from 2021
2022
Change from 2021
All industries 293,800 4,695 5% 3.2 3% 4,530,000
Agriculture(b) 4,400 400 -8% 18.2 -4% 90,000
Mining(b) 1,400 113 20% 16.1 11% 10,000
Construction 22,100 1,018 8% 9.2 2% 270,000
Manufacturing 30,600 363 5% 2.4 4% 490,000
Wholesale trade 6,300 157 5% 5.0 16% 80,000
Retail trade 28,500 174 6% 1.2 0% 530,000
Transportation and warehousing 14,900 964 7% 12.9 -3% 360,000
Utilities 2,100 36 13% 3.4 13% 20,000
Information 5,100 40 14% 1.6 14% 30,000
Financial activities 21,100 71 -1% 0.7 0% 80,000
Professional and business services 38,200 525 NA(c) 2.7 NA(c) 230,000
Educational and health services 45,000 130 -2% 0.6 0% 950,000
Leisure and hospitality 21,500 190 27% 1.8 20% 310,000
Other services(b) 13,300 151 -17% 2.3 -23% 120,000
Government 39,300 352 NA(c) 1.8 NA(c) 960,000
Industry not reported by BLS 11 -97%

(a) Deaths include persons of all ages. Workers and death rates include persons 16 years and older. The rate is calculated as: (number of fatal work injuries x 200,000,000/total hours worked). The base for 100,000 full-time equivalent workers is 200,000,000 hours. Prior to 2008, rates were based on estimated employment – not hours worked.
(b) Agriculture includes forestry, fishing, and hunting. Mining includes oil and gas extraction. “Other services” excludes public administration.

(c) BLS did not report the total number of deaths for several industry sectors in 2021.
Source: NSC analysis of data from the BLS CFOI surveillance program.