US Workplace Fatalities Declined in 2023

A newly released U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report shows a decline in the number of workplace fatalities in 2023.

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries reported 5,283 fatal worker injuries across the country in 2023.

That represents a 3.7% decrease in the number of workers killed over the previous year.

The fatal work injury rate was 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from 3.7 in 2022.

“Today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is more positive news for worker safety and health,” U.S. Department of Labor assistant secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker said.

“In November, the bureau reported a 20-year low in the rate of non-fatal worker injuries and illnesses in 2023, and we are further encouraged by the news that the number and rate of fatal worker injuries also dropped in 2023.”

Industry Specifics

Construction posted the most fatalities (1,075)—the highest for the sector going back to 2011—among all industry sectors.

Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 39% of all construction fatalities, with transportation incidents responsible for another 22%.

The transportation and warehousing sector had the second most fatalities (930), an 12% decrease from 2022.

The fatal injury rate among sector workers declined from 14.1 in 2022 to 12.9 cases per 100,000 FTE workers in 2023.

Other key findings:

• A worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury in 2023 compared to 96 minutes in 2022
• Transportation incidents were the most frequent type of fatal event, accounting for 37% of all workplace fatalities fatalities
• Fatalities due to violent acts totaled 740 in 2023, with homicides accounting for 62% of all violent acts and 9% of all work-related fatalities
• Opioids were the primary source of 162 fatalities and a contributor in an additional 144 fatalities
• Women accounted for 9% of all fatalities and 18% of homicides
• Women had the highest number of fatalities in the private healthcare and social assistance industry sector, followed by retail trade
• Workers ages 55 to 64 continued to have the highest number of fatalities at 1,089 (21%)
• The fatal injury count and rate for Black workers decreased in 2023, down 10% over 2022 with 3.6 cases per 100,000 FTE workers (compared with 4.2 the previous year)