Behind every statistic in the 5,486 lives lost to workplace injuries in 2022 is a story that ended too soon, a stark reminder that safety is a right, not a privilege.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 5,486 fatal workplace injuries in the United States, marking a 5.7% increase from 5,190 in 2021.
- The U.S. fatal work injury rate in 2022 was 3.7 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, up from 3.6 in 2021.
- Transportation incidents accounted for 1,779 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2022, representing 37.2% of total workplace deaths.
- The ILO estimates 2.78 million work-related deaths globally each year, with 2.4 million from occupational diseases.
- In 2019, occupational accidents caused 340,000 global fatalities annually, per ILO.
- Agriculture accounts for 27% of global work-related deaths, affecting 1 farm worker per hour.
- In the U.S. construction sector, 1,056 workers died in 2022, rate of 13.1 per 100,000 FTE.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting had 537 fatal injuries in U.S. 2022, rate 23.1 per 100,000.
- Mining, quarrying, oil/gas extraction: 134 deaths in U.S. 2022, highest rate 15.0 per 100,000.
- Transportation incidents were the top cause of U.S. workplace deaths in 2022 with 1,779 cases, 37.2%.
- Falls to lower level: 697 fatalities in U.S. 2022, part of 865 total falls.
- Struck by object or equipment: 503 U.S. deaths in 2022.
- Heavy truck drivers had 904 fatal injuries in U.S. 2022.
- Construction laborers: 318 deaths in U.S. 2022.
- Grounds maintenance workers: 283 fatal injuries U.S. 2022.
Workplace deaths increased in 2022, with transportation incidents being the leading cause.
By Cause
- Transportation incidents were the top cause of U.S. workplace deaths in 2022 with 1,779 cases, 37.2%.
- Falls to lower level: 697 fatalities in U.S. 2022, part of 865 total falls.
- Struck by object or equipment: 503 U.S. deaths in 2022.
- Motor vehicle crashes: 1,069 fatal work injuries in U.S. 2022.
- Pedestrian struck by vehicle: 310 U.S. workplace deaths 2022.
- Exposure to electricity: 144 fatalities in U.S. 2022.
- Drowning: 71 fatal work injuries in U.S. 2022.
- Fire/explosion: 79 deaths in U.S. workplaces 2022.
- Shooting: 594 intentional injuries by persons in U.S. 2022.
- Stabbing: 86 U.S. workplace fatalities 2022.
- Globally, falls from height cause 28% of construction deaths.
- Machinery accidents: 39,000 global deaths yearly.
- Chemical exposures lead to 2 million work-related deaths annually worldwide.
- Asbestos exposure causes 255,000 cancer deaths globally per year.
- Silica dust: 545,000 deaths from COPD/silicosis worldwide.
- Diesel exhaust: 270,000 lung cancer deaths annually global.
- In EU, falls from height: 25% of fatal accidents in 2021.
- EU struck by moving objects: 15% of fatalities 2021.
- Vehicle-related: 22% of EU workplace deaths 2021.
- Violence at work in U.S.: 761 homicides in 2022.
- Overexertion caused 151 U.S. fatal injuries in 2022.
- Oxygen deficiency: 72 deaths in U.S. 2022.
By Cause Interpretation
Behind every sobering statistic lies a simple, tragic truth: in the modern workplace, the commute remains a deadly gauntlet, a slip can be a final step, and the very air we work in can carry a silent, slow verdict.
By Industry
- In the U.S. construction sector, 1,056 workers died in 2022, rate of 13.1 per 100,000 FTE.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting had 537 fatal injuries in U.S. 2022, rate 23.1 per 100,000.
- Mining, quarrying, oil/gas extraction: 134 deaths in U.S. 2022, highest rate 15.0 per 100,000.
- Manufacturing sector recorded 373 U.S. workplace fatalities in 2022.
- Trade, transportation, utilities: 1,645 deaths in U.S. 2022, 32.3% of total.
- Leisure and hospitality had 193 fatal work injuries in U.S. 2022.
- Globally, agriculture causes 27% of work-related fatalities, about 750,000 deaths yearly.
- Construction globally: 60,000 fatal falls annually.
- Mining fatalities: 28,000 worldwide per year per ILO.
- Transportation sector: 40% of U.S. fatalities, 1,779 in 2022.
- Healthcare and social assistance: 462 deaths in U.S. 2022.
- Public administration: 140 fatal injuries in U.S. 2022.
- In EU-27, construction had 807 fatal accidents in 2021.
- Manufacturing in EU: 475 fatal accidents in 2021.
- Wholesale/retail in EU: 346 workplace deaths in 2021.
- Agriculture in EU: 335 fatal accidents in 2021.
- Transport/storage in EU: 1,340 deaths in 2021.
- U.S. oil/gas extraction: 50 deaths in 2022.
- Fishing industry: 37 U.S. deaths in 2022.
- Logging: 52 fatal injuries in U.S. 2022.
- Globally, manufacturing: 400,000 work-related deaths yearly.
By Industry Interpretation
Behind every one of these grim, abstract percentages lies a concrete tragedy, starkly reminding us that we've normalized human sacrifice as a line item in the cost of doing business.
By Occupation
- Heavy truck drivers had 904 fatal injuries in U.S. 2022.
- Construction laborers: 318 deaths in U.S. 2022.
- Grounds maintenance workers: 283 fatal injuries U.S. 2022.
- Roofers: 103 U.S. workplace deaths 2022.
- First-line supervisors of construction: 132 fatalities U.S. 2022.
- Farmers, ranchers, agricultural managers: 171 deaths U.S. 2022.
- Driver/sales workers and truck drivers combined: 1,115 U.S. fatalities 2022.
- Logging workers: 52 deaths, highest rate 100.5 per 100k U.S. 2022.
- Fishers and related fishing workers: 37 fatalities U.S. 2022.
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers: 46 deaths U.S. 2022.
- Garbage and recyclable collectors: 43 fatal injuries U.S. 2022.
- Structural iron/steel workers: 25 deaths U.S. 2022.
- Helpers in construction trades: 44 fatalities U.S. 2022.
- Landscaping supervisors: 22 deaths U.S. 2022.
- In EU, drivers/motor vehicle operators: highest fatal accidents 2021.
- EU construction laborers: second highest occupation deaths 2021.
- Globally, farmers face highest occupational death risks.
- Miners: 12.8 deaths per 100k globally.
- Construction laborers worldwide: 20% of sector deaths.
By Occupation Interpretation
Behind the everyday convenience of a delivered package, a built home, or fresh food lies a sobering ledger of risk, where professions involving transportation, heights, and the raw elements dominate the grim accounting of on-the-job mortality.
Global Statistics
- The ILO estimates 2.78 million work-related deaths globally each year, with 2.4 million from occupational diseases.
- In 2019, occupational accidents caused 340,000 global fatalities annually, per ILO.
- Agriculture accounts for 27% of global work-related deaths, affecting 1 farm worker per hour.
- Construction represents 30% of global fatal occupational injuries.
- Globally, 630,000 workers die from work-related diseases each year, per WHO/ILO.
- Over 350,000 workers die annually from exposure to hazards like carcinogens globally.
- In low- and middle-income countries, 68% of global fatal occupational injuries occur.
- Asia and Pacific region sees over 1.2 million work-related deaths yearly.
- Africa has a work-related death rate of 19.5 per 100,000 workers.
- Europe reports 5.6 fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers annually.
- Americas region averages 11.0 work-related deaths per 100,000 workers.
- 160 million non-fatal work injuries occur globally each year, alongside 2.78 million deaths.
- Pneumoconioses cause 433,000 global work-related deaths yearly.
- Agricultural workers face 236 million non-fatal injuries globally per year.
- Mining sector has a global fatality rate 10 times higher than average industries.
- Globally, 1.7 billion workers are exposed to occupational carcinogens.
- Long working hours cause 745,000 deaths annually worldwide, 55% from stroke.
- 398,000 workers die yearly from heart disease due to excessive hours globally.
- In 2016, global work-related deaths totaled 3.6 million per ILO estimates.
- Construction fatalities worldwide: 108,000 per year from accidents.
Global Statistics Interpretation
These staggering statistics, a litany of preventable tragedies, prove that our workplaces have become weapons of mass destruction, claiming millions of lives while hiding behind the mundane language of industry and hazard.
Trends Over Time
- U.S. workplace fatalities decreased 11% from 2019 to 2020 due to COVID impacts.
- From 2011-2020, U.S. total fatal injuries averaged 4,693 annually.
- U.S. fatal injury rate declined from 4.0 in 2011 to 3.5 in 2020 per 100k.
- Transportation deaths in U.S. rose 6.7% from 2021 to 2022.
- U.S. falls fatalities increased 3.2% in 2022 over 2021.
- Violence-related U.S. deaths up 7.1% from 2021 to 2022.
- Construction fatalities in U.S. down 6.2% from 2021 peak.
- Global work-related deaths stable at ~2.8 million annually since 2010.
- EU fatal accident rate fell from 3.3 in 2012 to 1.7 per 100k in 2021.
- U.S. Hispanic worker fatalities up 8.2% from 2021 to 2022.
- Older workers (65+) U.S. fatalities increased 11% in 2022.
- COVID-19 caused spike: 5,060 U.S. excess deaths 2020-2021.
Trends Over Time Interpretation
While overall trends suggest some progress in U.S. workplace safety, the devil remains alarmingly in the details, where rising deaths in transport, falls, violence, and among Hispanic and older workers reveal a stubbornly persistent human cost hiding behind the marginally improved statistics.
United States Statistics
- In 2022, there were 5,486 fatal workplace injuries in the United States, marking a 5.7% increase from 5,190 in 2021.
- The U.S. fatal work injury rate in 2022 was 3.7 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, up from 3.6 in 2021.
- Transportation incidents accounted for 1,779 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2022, representing 37.2% of total workplace deaths.
- Falls, slips, and trips caused 865 fatal injuries in the U.S. workplace in 2022, the second-leading cause at 18.7%.
- In 2022, contact with objects and equipment led to 691 U.S. workplace fatalities, comprising 14.9% of the total.
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments resulted in 703 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2022, or 15.2%.
- Intentional injuries by other persons caused 912 workplace deaths in the U.S. in 2022, accounting for 19.7%.
- Violence and other injuries caused 536 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2022.
- The construction industry had 1,056 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2022, 20.7% of total fatalities.
- Transportation and warehousing recorded 1,034 workplace deaths in the U.S. in 2022.
- In 2021, U.S. workplace fatalities totaled 5,190, with a rate of 3.6 per 100,000 FTE workers.
- Private industry accounted for 4,988 fatal injuries in the U.S. in 2022, while government saw 385.
- Self-employed workers had 897 fatal injuries in the U.S. in 2022.
- Wage and salary workers experienced 4,589 workplace deaths in the U.S. in 2022.
- In 2022, 954 fatal work injuries occurred among Hispanic or Latino workers in the U.S.
- Black or African American workers had 1,056 fatal workplace injuries in the U.S. in 2022.
- White non-Hispanic workers accounted for 3,056 U.S. workplace fatalities in 2022.
- Men experienced 4,919 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2022, compared to 351 for women.
- Workers aged 25-34 had 1,312 fatal injuries in the U.S. workplace in 2022.
- In 2022, 16% of U.S. fatal work injuries involved workers age 55 and older.
- Foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers had 618 fatal injuries in the U.S. in 2022.
- Native-born workers accounted for 3,934 U.S. workplace deaths in 2022.
- The fatal injury rate for truck drivers in the U.S. was 30.1 per 100,000 FTE in 2022.
- Roofers had a U.S. fatal injury rate of 51.8 per 100,000 FTE workers in 2022.
- Fishers and fishing workers faced a rate of 75.2 fatal injuries per 100,000 FTE in the U.S. in 2022.
- Loggers had the highest U.S. rate at 100.5 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTE in 2022.
- Aircraft pilots had 28.3 fatal injuries per 100,000 FTE in the U.S. in 2022.
- In 2020, U.S. COVID-19 related workplace deaths reached 4,764, per CDC estimates.
- Total U.S. workplace fatalities in 2019 were 5,333.
United States Statistics Interpretation
This alarming data reveals that while every workplace fatality is a profound human tragedy, the grim reality is that some jobs are essentially playing a deadly game of roulette with dramatically tilted odds.