One American worker died every 104 minutes because of a work-related injury in 2024. A total of 5,070 people lost their lives on the job, according to the latest nationwide figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The report shows that workplace fatalities declined by 4% compared with 2023. However, the numbers reveal how dangerous everyday jobs can be, particularly for people working in transportation, construction, farming, and other physically demanding occupations.
Transportation accidents caused the largest number of deaths. Falls, contact with equipment, exposure to harmful substances, and workplace violence accounted for thousands more.
Workplace Deaths Fell in 2024, but More Than 5,000 People Still Died
The latest federal workplace fatality report recorded 5,070 deaths in 2024, compared with 5,283 in 2023. The fatal injury rate also decreased, reaching 3.3 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
It was the second consecutive year of declining workplace fatality rates, following a peak of 3.7 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2022.
| Year | Workplace Deaths | Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,764 | 3.4 |
| 2021 | 5,190 | 3.6 |
| 2022 | 5,486 | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 5,283 | 3.5 |
| 2024 | 5,070 | 3.3 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Rates are calculated per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
Across the five years, 25,793 workers died because of occupational injuries. The 2024 total was lower than in the previous three years, although it remained above the number recorded in 2020.
The financial and personal consequences extend to surviving families. A fatal accident can leave relatives dealing with lost household income, funeral expenses, and questions about legal responsibility. In cases involving negligence by someone other than the employer, families may seek advice from personal injury attorneys, including the Dallas-based Freese & Goss Law Firm, about possible legal claims.
Transportation Accidents Caused Nearly 40% of Workplace Deaths
Driving for work remains one of the deadliest activities in the American labor market.
Transportation incidents accounted for 1,937 workplace deaths in 2024, representing 38.2% of all fatal occupational injuries.
Roadway crashes involving motor vehicles caused 1,146 deaths. Another 369 workers died in pedestrian incidents involving motor vehicles, an increase of 19% compared with 2023.
Truck drivers, delivery workers, road crews, and employees operating near moving vehicles face dangers that extend outside traditional workplaces.
The official breakdown of fatal incidents identifies several other major causes of occupational deaths.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in 2024 | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation incidents | 1,937 | 38.2% |
| Falls, slips, and trips | 844 | 16.6% |
| Contact with objects and equipment | 756 | 14.9% |
| Violent acts | 733 | 14.5% |
| Harmful substances or environments | 687 | 13.6% |
| Fires and explosions | 93 | 1.8% |
Falls were responsible for 844 deaths, including workers who fell from ladders, rooftops, elevated platforms, and other heights.
Workplace violence also remained a serious problem. Federal investigators recorded 470 homicides involving workers in 2024, up from 458 the previous year.
Construction and Transportation Workers Faced the Highest Death Counts
Construction remained the deadliest private industry by total number of fatalities, recording 1,034 deaths in 2024.
Transportation and warehousing followed with 865 deaths. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting recorded 475 fatalities, according to BLS industry statistics.
| Private Industry | 2024 Deaths |
|---|---|
| Construction | 1,034 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 865 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting | 475 |
| Manufacturing | 353 |
| Retail trade | 258 |
Construction workers face risks involving heavy machinery, falling objects, electrical systems, and elevated work areas. Among construction and extraction occupations, falls, slips, and trips caused 370 deaths in 2024.
The findings are particularly relevant as the United States continues investing in housing and infrastructure. American construction employment reached 8.36 million payroll jobs in September 2026, as detailed in the latest construction employment and industry statistics.
Industry totals also depend on workforce size. A sector employing millions of people can record more deaths than a smaller occupation even when individual workers face a lower fatality risk.
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Had the Highest Fatal Injury Rate
Looking at deaths relative to the number of workers changes the picture considerably.
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations recorded 25.4 fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2024. That was nearly eight times the national average of 3.3.
Construction and extraction occupations followed with a rate of 12.6. Transportation and material moving occupations recorded 12.5.
| Occupational Group | Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers |
|---|---|
| Farming, fishing, and forestry | 25.4 |
| Construction and extraction | 12.6 |
| Transportation and material moving | 12.5 |
| Installation, maintenance, and repair | 8.9 |
| Service occupations | 3.6 |
| All workers | 3.3 |
Source: BLS fatality rates by occupation, 2024.
Farming and forestry jobs involve powerful equipment, unpredictable outdoor conditions, and work in remote locations. Transportation workers spend long hours around traffic and heavy vehicles.
Some smaller occupations face exceptionally high risks. Refuse collectors, for example, work around moving trucks and heavy waste containers. The dangers associated with garbage collection compared with policing demonstrate why death rates can reveal risks that total fatality counts alone cannot explain.
Workplace Fatalities Among Hispanic Workers Remained High
Federal statistics also show differences in fatal injury rates among demographic groups.
Hispanic or Latino workers accounted for 1,229 workplace deaths in 2024. Their fatal injury rate was 4.3 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, higher than the national average.
Of those deaths, 842 involved Hispanic or Latino workers born outside the United States, representing 68.5% of fatalities within the group.
Black or African American workers experienced 624 fatalities, down from 659 in 2023. Their fatal injury rate declined from 3.6 to 3.4.
Men accounted for 4,657 workplace deaths, representing nearly 92% of the national total. Women accounted for 413 deaths.
Differences in occupation, industry, and exposure to hazardous tasks are important when interpreting demographic fatality statistics. The figures alone do not establish why one population experienced greater risk.
Millions More Workers Experienced Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses
Fatal accidents represent only part of the national workplace safety problem.
Private industry employers reported 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2024, according to the federal employer injury survey released in January 2026.
The total declined 3.1% compared with 2023 and reached the lowest recorded level in the series dating back to 2003.
Many workplace injuries can require extended recovery periods, rehabilitation, or changes in job duties. Serious injuries may also affect earnings when employees cannot immediately return to their previous positions.
Rules concerning time off after a workplace injury depend on state law, medical restrictions, and applicable employment protections.
Federal nonfatal injury figures also have limits. They rely on employer reporting and cover private industry establishments, so they should not be interpreted as a complete count of every injury experienced by an American worker.
What the Latest Statistics Say About Workplace Safety
The decline in fatalities is encouraging, particularly the reduction in deaths involving harmful substances and environments. Fatalities in that category fell from 820 in 2023 to 687 in 2024.
Drug and alcohol overdose deaths within the category dropped from 512 to 410, contributing substantially to the overall decline.
However, transportation incidents still accounted for nearly four in ten workplace deaths. Falls and equipment-related accidents remained major hazards, particularly in physically demanding occupations.
The latest complete federal fatality data covers 2024, although the report was published in February 2026. Final nationwide figures for 2025 and 2026 were not yet available as of November 4, 2026.
More than 5,000 deaths in one year means an average of nearly 14 workers lost every day. For employers, workers, and safety regulators, the next challenge is reducing preventable accidents in the occupations where the risk remains highest.
