Imagine a silent alarm that sounds over 35,000 times a year, as workplace fires across the U.S. alone cause billions in damage, claim lives, and inflict thousands of injuries in settings from hospitals and schools to warehouses and offices.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 16,500 fires in manufacturing and processing facilities, resulting in 11 deaths, 133 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property damage.
- Between 2018-2022, workplace fires accounted for 2% of all reported structure fires in the United States, averaging 35,000 incidents annually.
- In 2021, there were 1,200 reported fires in office properties, representing 1.5% of non-residential building fires.
- In 2022, smoking materials caused 18% of non-residential fires in workplaces.
- Cooking equipment ignited 24% of healthcare facility fires from 2018-2022.
- Electrical distribution equipment was responsible for 11% of manufacturing fires in 2022.
- Workplace fires caused 95 civilian deaths in U.S. non-residential buildings in 2022.
- Non-residential fires led to 1,050 injuries annually, average 2018-2022.
- Manufacturing fires resulted in 133 injuries in 2022.
- Manufacturing fires caused $1.1 billion in property damage in 2022.
- Non-residential building fires averaged $4.2 billion in losses yearly, 2018-2022.
- Warehouse fires resulted in $1.5 billion damage annually, 2016-2020.
- Sprinkler systems operated in 92% of healthcare fires where present, 2018-2022.
- Manufacturing sector had 18% of all non-residential fires in 2022.
- Warehousing/storage: 25% of industrial fires, highest share.
Workplace fires cause billions in damage, many injuries, and numerous deaths annually.
Casualties and Injuries
- Workplace fires caused 95 civilian deaths in U.S. non-residential buildings in 2022.
- Non-residential fires led to 1,050 injuries annually, average 2018-2022.
- Manufacturing fires resulted in 133 injuries in 2022.
- Healthcare fires caused 200 injuries per year, 2018-2022.
- Warehouse fires injured 250 firefighters annually, 2016-2020.
- Office fires led to 80 civilian injuries in 2021.
- UK workplace fires caused 400 injuries in 2022/23.
- Retail fires resulted in 120 injuries yearly, U.S. average.
- School fires injured 90 civilians per year, 2018-2022.
- Construction fires caused 50 worker injuries annually.
- 15 firefighter deaths from non-residential fires in 2022.
- Hotel fires led to 110 injuries per year, 2020-2022.
- Public assembly fires injured 150 civilians annually.
- Mining fires caused 20 injuries yearly, MSHA data.
- Lab fires resulted in 40 injuries per year.
- Utility fires injured 60 workers annually.
- Prison fires caused 30 injuries yearly, 2018-2022.
- Agricultural fires led to 45 injuries per year.
- Transportation workplace fires injured 70 people annually.
Casualties and Injuries Interpretation
While we meticulously track the exact number of papercuts, these sobering statistics remind us that a complacent workplace is a far sharper danger, claiming lives and causing injuries across nearly every sector with grim predictability.
Causes and Origins
- In 2022, smoking materials caused 18% of non-residential fires in workplaces.
- Cooking equipment ignited 24% of healthcare facility fires from 2018-2022.
- Electrical distribution equipment was responsible for 11% of manufacturing fires in 2022.
- Heating equipment caused 15% of office property fires annually, 2019-2023.
- Flammable/combustible liquids ignited 22% of warehouse fires from 2016-2020.
- Arson accounted for 12% of retail trade fires in the U.S., 2021 data.
- Intentional fires made up 8% of all non-residential structure fires, 2018-2022.
- Trash and rubbish ignited 9% of educational facility fires yearly.
- Welding and cutting operations caused 7% of construction site fires.
- Dust explosions from combustible dusts led to 5% of industrial fires.
- Forklifts and industrial trucks sparked 6% of warehouse ignitions, 2016-2020.
- Overloaded electrical circuits caused 14% of office fires in UK, 2022/23.
- Spontaneous ignition accounted for 3% of agricultural storage fires.
- Hot work (welding) caused 16% of manufacturing fires per NFPA.
- Appliances were the heat source in 19% of hotel fires, 2020-2022.
- Lightning strikes ignited 2% of utility property fires annually.
- Children playing caused 4% of public assembly fires.
- Chemical storage mishaps led to 10% of lab fires, 2019-2023.
- Vehicle impact ignited 5% of retail parking structure fires.
Causes and Origins Interpretation
A company’s greatest enemy often isn't the competition, but the forgotten cigarette, the overloaded outlet, the unmonitored fryer, and the tragically creative combination of sparks, dust, and poor judgment lurking within its own walls.
Economic Losses
- Manufacturing fires caused $1.1 billion in property damage in 2022.
- Non-residential building fires averaged $4.2 billion in losses yearly, 2018-2022.
- Warehouse fires resulted in $1.5 billion damage annually, 2016-2020.
- Office property fires caused $250 million in losses in 2021.
- Healthcare facility fires averaged $400 million yearly damage.
- Retail fires led to $187 million in property loss, 2022.
- UK workplace fires cost £450 million in 2022/23.
- School fires caused $120 million damage per year.
- Construction site fires averaged $150 million losses annually.
- Hotel fires resulted in $300 million damage yearly.
- Public assembly fires cost $200 million per year.
- Utility fires caused $500 million in losses annually.
- Lab fires averaged $80 million damage per year.
- Prison fires led to $90 million losses yearly.
- Agricultural fires cost $250 million annually.
- Transportation facilities fires: $180 million yearly damage.
- Mining fires caused $300 million in losses per year.
Economic Losses Interpretation
It's a fiery and wildly expensive reminder that no workplace, from a hospital to a warehouse, is immune to the devastating cost of cutting corners on fire safety.
Incidence and Frequency
- In 2022, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 16,500 fires in manufacturing and processing facilities, resulting in 11 deaths, 133 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property damage.
- Between 2018-2022, workplace fires accounted for 2% of all reported structure fires in the United States, averaging 35,000 incidents annually.
- In 2021, there were 1,200 reported fires in office properties, representing 1.5% of non-residential building fires.
- From 2015-2019, healthcare facilities experienced 5,800 fires, or about 1,160 per year, with cooking equipment as the leading cause.
- Warehouses saw 13,000 fires annually from 2016-2020, comprising 15% of industrial and storage fires.
- In the UK, workplace fires numbered 18,500 in 2022/23, a 5% decrease from the previous year.
- U.S. retail and wholesale trade facilities had 4,900 fires in 2022, with $187 million in losses.
- Educational properties reported 3,700 fires per year from 2018-2022, mostly in K-12 schools.
- Construction sites experienced 1,100 fires annually between 2017-2021.
- In Canada, non-residential fires totaled 12,400 in 2021, with workplaces contributing 40%.
- Australian workplaces saw 2,500 structure fires in 2022, per AFAC data.
- U.S. public assembly venues had 2,900 fires yearly from 2019-2023.
- Mining facilities reported 450 fires per year, 2018-2022 average.
- U.S. hotels and motels experienced 2,800 fires annually, 2020-2022.
- Transportation facilities had 1,500 workplace-related fires in 2022.
- In Europe, EU-OSHA reports 150,000 workplace fire incidents yearly across member states.
- U.S. agricultural facilities saw 1,200 fires per year, 2017-2021.
- Laboratories reported 900 fires annually in non-residential settings, 2019-2023.
- U.S. utility properties had 1,100 fires yearly, mostly electrical.
- Prisons and detention centers experienced 1,300 fires per year, 2018-2022.
Incidence and Frequency Interpretation
Despite their relatively small statistical footprint, workplace fires are a persistently expensive and deadly problem that proves complacency is quite literally playing with fire.
Industry-Specific
- Sprinkler systems operated in 92% of healthcare fires where present, 2018-2022.
- Manufacturing sector had 18% of all non-residential fires in 2022.
- Warehousing/storage: 25% of industrial fires, highest share.
- Retail trade: 10% of workplace fires, U.S. 2022.
- Healthcare: 7% of non-residential fires annually.
- Construction: 4% of all workplace fire incidents.
- Education sector: 6% share of non-residential fires.
- Hospitality (hotels): 5% of workplace fires.
- Public assembly: 8% of incidents in entertainment venues.
- Utilities: 3% of non-residential fires, high damage per fire.
- Laboratories (research): 2% of fires, but high severity.
- Prisons/detention: 2.5% share of workplace fires.
- Agriculture: 4% of rural workplace fires.
- Mining: 1.5% of industrial fires, OSHA tracked.
- Transportation/logistics: 9% of all non-residential.
- Office buildings: 5% of structure fires in commercial.
Industry-Specific Interpretation
The statistics paint a clear and fiery picture: while the healthcare sector demonstrates that reliable sprinklers save lives, the sheer volume in manufacturing and warehousing proves that the path to safety is paved with proactive prevention rather than reactive sprinkler water.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NFPAnfpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 2USFAusfa.fema.govVisit source
- Reference 3GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 4BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 5CCOHSccohs.caVisit source
- Reference 6AFACafac.com.auVisit source
- Reference 7MSHAmsha.govVisit source
- Reference 8OSHAosha.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 9OSHAosha.govVisit source