Work Safety Introduction

The number of preventable work deaths decreased 5% in 2024, totaling 4,337. In addition to preventable fatal work injuries, 733 homicides and suicides occurred in the workplace in 2024. These intentional injuries are not included in the preventable injury estimates.

The decrease in preventable work deaths in 2024 occurred along with a slight decrease in hours worked (-0.4%). As a result of the decreasing number of deaths and a slight decrease in number of hours worked, the preventable injury death rate decreased 3% from 3.0 per 100,000 workers in 2023 to 2.9 in 2024. Work-related medically consulted injuries totaled 3.95 million in 2024.

2024 Occupational Safety Highlights

Preventable injury-related deaths 4,337
Preventable injury-related deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers 2.9
Medically consulted injuries 3,950,000
Workers 162,406
Costs  $181.4 Billion

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

As in previous years, 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, 2024

Industry division
Hours worked(a) (millions)
 Deaths(a) Deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers(a) Medically consulted injuries
2024
Change from 2023
2024
Change from 2023
All industries 297,600 4,337 -5% 2.9 -3% 3,950,000
Agriculture(b) 4,400 459 7% 20.9 4% 90,000
Mining(b) 1,300 89 -21% 13.7 -21% 10,000
Construction 22,500 988 -4% 8.8 -4% 250,000
Manufacturing 29,900 304 -13% 2.0 -13% 400,000
Wholesale trade 6,300 136 -16% 4.3 -12% 70,000
Retail trade 28,300 154 -16% 1.1 -15% 420,000
Transportation and warehousing 14,200 790 -6% 11.1 -5% 310,000
Utilities 2,500 30 -23% 2.4 -23% 20,000
Information 5,100 22 -4% 0.9 0% 20,000
Financial activities 20,600 65 -13% 0.6 -14% 70,000
Professional and business services (c) 39,200 493 -11% 2.5 -14% 200,000
Educational and health services 47,600 117 -21% 0.5 -17% 760,000
Leisure and hospitality 22,000 168 2% 1.5 0% 310,000
Other services(b) 13,300 192 19% 2.9 21% 130,000
Government 40,400 316 -5% 1.6 -6% 890,000

(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) NSC estimate. Not reported by BLS.

Source: NSC analysis of data from the BLS CFOI surveillance program.