Did you know workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $1 billion per week? Yes, you read that right—per week. That equals more than $58 billion per year.
It can add up to even more, stemming from direct costs like medical expenses, workers’ compensation, and legal fees and indirect costs like lost productivity and lower employee morale.
As we begin a new year, let’s examine the latest statistics to discover the leading causes of these injuries, identify the industries most affected, and explain why proactive safety measures are vital to every business, including yours.
Number of worker deaths due to work-related injury
In 2023, the harsh reality was that a worker died every 102 minutes from a work-related injury. While this was better than the 2022 number of a worker dying every 99 minutes, we still have a long way to go in reducing and eliminating workplace deaths. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a staggering 5,283 workers were killed on the job in the United States in 2023.
These stats have a significant impact on businesses and their employees. In 2022, for example, 1.8 million workdays were lost due to worker injury and illness. Every workplace injury or illness increases the odds of an employee fatality. Therefore, to reduce workplace deaths, we must reduce the number of workplace injuries.
Is your business part of an industry with the highest injury rates?
Understanding the industries that experience the highest injury and
fatality rates is critical for implementing targeted safety measures. Per NSC Injury Facts, these industries are the most affected:
- Construction—the highest number of reported workplace deaths
- Education and health services—the highest number of nonfatal injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting—highest death rate per 100,000 workers
- Transportation and warehousing—highest injury and illness rate involving days away from work per 100,000 workers.
Total Recordable injuries and illnesses in selected sectors, private industry 2022-23.
Top causes of workplace injuries and fatalities
Here’s a breakdown of the five most disabling workplace injuries in 2023, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index:
- Overexertion involving outside sources ($12.84B)
- Falls on the same level ($8.98B)
- Falls to lower levels ($6.09B)
- Being struck by an object or equipment ($5.14B)
- Other bodily reactions due to exertion ($3.35B)
This leads us to workplace fatalities. Here are the most common causes:
Transportation incidents
- Highest fatality rate—workers aged 55-64
- Responsible for 36.8% of all occupational fatalities
Violent acts, including homicide and suicide
- Highest fatality rate—workers aged 25-34
- Responsible for 61.9% of violent events and 8.7% of total work-related fatalities
Unintentional overdose deaths from non-medical drug or alcohol use
- 619% increase from 2011-2022.
Some good news:
In 2023, workplace deaths due to overdose saw a decrease for the first time since 2011.
How safe are Alabama workplaces?
Out of 50 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Alabama ranked 40th with a rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers. This is compared to the state with the highest fatalities (Wyoming, 12.7) and the lowest (Rhode Island, 1.4).
Based on these findings, it’s clear that while employers have made great strides in reducing workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, there still is much to do to help businesses create safer work environments. How does your company stack up?