A day’s work can be dangerous to well-being, no matter where you work or what you do. And while some jobs are generally safe, others can be quite hazardous. What are the actual numbers, however? Read our work injury statistics to find out just that.
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- The total number of injuries per 100 full-time workers remained unchanged at 2.8 in 2020.
- Workplace injury rates have been on the decline since 1972, dropping by 75%.
- Occupational fatalities increased by 2% in 2019.
- 40% of all occupational fatalities in 2019 were attributed to transportation incidents.
- Slips, trips, and falls, overexertion, bodily reactions, as well as contact with objects and equipment account for more than 84% of all non-fatal injuries involving days away from work.
- In the US, 36,840 injuries in workplaces were caused by exposure to harmful substances or environments in 2020.
- About 2.3 million people worldwide have work-related accidents every year.
General Work Injury Statistics
1. Slips, trips, falls, overexertion, bodily reactions, and contact with objects and equipment account for more than 84% of all non-fatal injuries involving days away from work.
The International Labor Organization reports that every year, 2.3 million men and women experience accidents (injuries or exposure to diseases) while working. This translates into over 6,000 deaths every single day.
3. There are about 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually.
Occupational injuries are a commonplace occurrence, with 340 million occupational accidents happening every year. There are 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually.
Workplace Death Statistics
4. 40% of all occupational fatalities in 2019 were attributed to transportation incidents.
Transportation incidents were the leading cause of occupational fatalities in 2019, causing about 40% of the total number. The 2,122 deaths represent a 2% increase from the previous year’s numbers.
5. Latino workers experienced 3.7 fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers from 2018 to 2020.
(Statista)
Despite the number of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers in the US falling from 4.2 in 2006 to 3.5 in 2018, Latino workers had a higher average death rate, experiencing 3.7 fatal occupational injuries per 100,000.
6. 20% of worker fatalities in 2019 in the US private sector were in construction.
(OSHA)
Workplace fatality statistics by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that about 20% of worker fatalities in the private industry for the year 2019 were in construction.
7. In 2019, there were about 15 deaths every day or more than 100 each week in the US work industry.
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
More than 100 workers a week or 15 people per day were reported to have died in their workplace in 2019 on average.
8. A total of 111 workers were killed at work in Great Britain in 2019/20.
According to workplace injury statistics for 2020 gathered by the Health and Safety Executive, 111 workers died in their workplace in Great Britain in 2019/20; 38 less than in the previous year.
9. Hazardous substances alone are estimated to cause approximately 650,000 deaths per year.
According to an International Labor Organization report, diseases related to work cause the most deaths among workers. More than 650,000 deaths globally were caused by hazardous substances alone. The same report found that older and younger workers were at higher risk of workplace injuries.
OSHA Statistics
10. $5.82 billion was appropriated for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the fiscal year 2020.
(OSHA)
Federal appropriations for OSHA in 2020 amounted to $581,787,000. For 2019, $557,787,000 was appropriated.
11. There are 1,850 inspectors working for OSHA.
(OSHA)
As of 2020, OSHA employs 1,850 inspectors responsible for the well-being of 130 million workers. They are employed at more than eight million worksites around the US. This means there is approximately one compliance officer for every 70,000 workers.
12. There were more than 33,000 OSHA federal inspections for the fiscal year of 2019.
(OSHA)
There were 33,393 total federal inspections in 2019 and 42,063 total State Plan inspections.
Work Injury Statistics for the US
13. The total number of injuries per 100 full-time workers remained unchanged at 2.8 in 2020.
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employer-Related Workplace Injuries and Illnesses News Release, as of November 2020, 2.8 of every 100 workers were injured at their workplace. This number has remained unchanged since 2018.
14. Occupational fatalities increased by 2% in 2019.
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
While there was a decline in workplace injuries, work accidents statistics for fatalities paint a grim picture: 5,333 workplace fatalities were recorded in 2019, representing a 2% increase in fatalities from 2018. As a matter of fact, since 2010, the number of fatalities has been on the rise.
15. US workplace injury rates have been on the decline since 1972, dropping by 75%.
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
As of 2019, the US recorded nearly 50 years of gradually reduced occupational hazards, as workplace injuries have decreased by 75% since 1972.
16. Direct costs of the top 10 most disabling US workplace injuries in 2020 amounted to $52.93 billion.
(Statista)
Workplace injury statistics by Statista inform us that the top 10 most disabling US workplace injuries had a total direct cost of $52.93 billion.
17. Overexertion involving outside sources was responsible for 23.5% of all workplace injuries in the US.
(Statista)
This made it the leading cause of most disabling US workplace injuries in 2020. In second place were the falls on the same level, responsible for 18.2% of all injuries. Being struck by an object or equipment and falling on a lower level accounted for 10.3% and 9.6% of disabling injuries, respectively.
18. Nearly 37,000 injuries in workplaces were caused by exposure to harmful substances or environments.
Exposure to harmful substances or environments was the sixth most common cause of occupational injuries in 2019 in the US, accounting for almost 37,000 injuries.
Workplace Injury Statistics by State
19. California and Texas had the highest number of workplace deaths for 2019: 451 and 608, respectively.
These two states also had the most workplace injuries - 3,799 in California and 1,876 in Texas. However, despite these high numbers, these states had relatively low rates of work-related fatalities. California had 2.3 fatalities per 100,000 full-time workers, and Texas had 3.8 per 100,000.
20. Alaska had the highest incidence and fatality rates for the number of accidents per 100 full-time workers.
While Alaska may not have had the highest number of injuries or fatalities, with 14.1 incidents and fatalities for the number of accidents per 100 full-time workers, it has the highest incidence and fatality rates in the US.
Most Common Workplace Injuries According to OSHA
21. OSHA estimates that powered industrial trucks or forklifts are responsible for around 96,700 injuries every year.
(MedExpress)
Of these injuries, 35,000 are considered severe.
22. Explosions and fires are responsible for 3% of workplace injuries.
They also have the highest casualty rate of all probable workplace accidents.
Conclusion
It would seem as though completely eradicating workplace accidents is impossible. With so many high-risk industries such as construction, the chance that there could occasionally be an accident leading to serious injury or death is highly probable.
However, work injury statistics show that each year, the number of these accidents in the US is decreasing thanks to regulatory bodies such as OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as increased compliance with work safety guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What are some worker rights related to injury and illness reporting?
A:
Workers have the right to report an injury and review a current log. They also have the right to review the summary of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
Q:
What is the most common workplace injury?
A:
According to workplace accidents statistics, the most common workplace injuries are slips, trips, and falls. Overexertion and bodily reaction are also among common workplace injuries.
Q:
How many workplace injuries are reported each year?
A:
The International Labor Organization reports that every year, 2.3 million men and women experience accidents (injuries or exposure to diseases) in their workplace.
Q:
What is the #1 cause of work-related fatalities?
A:
As of 2019, falls were the number one cause of work-related fatalities. Approximately 36.5% of all deaths in the workplace occur as a result of employees falling.
Q:
What industry has the highest injury rate?
A:
According to work injury statistics, the industry with the highest injury rate is the protective services industry. The industry sector experiencing the highest fatality rates per 100,000 workers, on the other hand, is the sector of agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting.
Q:
What is the most common non-fatal injury in the workplace?
A:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sprains, strains, and tears are the most common non-fatal workplace injury.
FAQs
What percentage of workplace injuries are caused by slips trips and falls? ›
95% of major slips result in broken bones and they can also be the initial cause for a range of other types of accident such as a fall from height. Slips and trips are responsible for, on average: over a third of all reported major injuries. 20% of over-3-day injuries to employees.
What percentage of workplace accidents are slips and trips? ›37% of all reported workplace injuries were as a result of a slip, trip or fall, with 28% of all fatalities in the workplace being caused by a slip, trip or fall. On average approximately 50 people die each year from a slip, trip or fall and a great many more are injured – some critically.
What percentage of deaths are caused by slips trips and falls? ›Second only to motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents account for 15 percent of all accidental deaths in the United States.
Are slips and trips most common injury at work? ›Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work. On average, they cause 40 per cent of all reported major injuries and can also lead to other types of serious accidents, for example falls from height. Slips and trips are also the most reported injury to members of the public.
How many people per day are injured in a slip trip or fall? ›That's more than two thousand people each day in the United States alone. There are approximately eight million emergency room visits each year because of falls.
What is the number 1 cause of workplace accidents? ›The three leading causes of work-related injuries treated in an emergency department were contact with objects and equipment, overexertion and bodily reaction, and falls, slips and trips without a fall.
How many injuries are in 2020 in the workplace? ›Private industry employers reported 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2020, down from 2.8 million in 2019, a decrease of 5.7 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
How many workers are injured each year? ›12,900 work injuries per day. 90,400 work injuries per week. 7 million work injuries per year.
Which of the following is the biggest cause of trip accidents? ›The majority of trips are caused by obstructions in walkways. The rest are caused by uneven surfaces. Preventing these accidents is often simple and cost-effective. You need to get all three right (walkways, housekeeping and design and maintenance), to prevent tripping accidents.
What is the #1 workplace injury? ›1. Slips, trips, and falls. Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common types of workplace injuries and are the top reason for worker's compensation claims.
What percentage of workplace injuries are from falls? ›
Approximately 36.5% of all deaths in the workplace occur as a result of employees falling. A: According to work injury statistics, the industry with the highest injury rate is the protective services industry.
What is the leading cause of slips trips and falls? ›1. Wet and Uneven Surfaces. By far the most common cause of slip and fall accidents globally is due to wet and uneven surfaces. In this country, they account for 55% of all of these types of accidents.
What are the 3 main control measures for slips trips and falls? ›keeping walking areas clear from clutter or obstructions. keeping flooring in good condition. always using installed light sources that provide sufficient light for your tasks.
What are ten 10 common sources of slips trips or falls occurring in the workplace? ›- Wet floors. Wet floors can be caused by a variety of things. ...
- Slippery floors. ...
- Dusty floors. ...
- Loose mats and floor coverings. ...
- Unsuitable footwear. ...
- Icy conditions. ...
- Obstacles. ...
- Loose flooring.
A further 95 369 reported injuries to employees caused an absence from work of over three days. The corresponding rate was 371.5. Of these injuries, the most common kinds of accident were caused by handling, lifting or carrying (36%), and slipping or tripping (24%).
How many people are injured in falls each year? ›Falls Are Serious and Costly
Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture.
581,000 non-fatal injuries to workers according to self-reported estimates. 1.4 million working people suffering from a work-related illness.
How common are falls in the workplace? ›How big of an issue are falls in the workplace? Based on 2014 published data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 261,930 private industry and state and local government workers missed one or more days of work due to injuries from falls on the same level or to lower levels1, and 798 workers died from such falls2.
What are the 5 most common causes of workplace accidents? ›- Hit by a moving object. ...
- Fall from height. ...
- Manual Handling. ...
- Struck by moving vehicle. ...
- Slips and trips. ...
- How can I prevent these workplace accidents from taking place?
- 1) Overexertion and tiredness. Most types of physical activity will become tiring if they are carried out over a long period of time. ...
- 2) Slips, trips and falls. ...
- 3) Distractions. ...
- 4) Messy work environments. ...
- 5) Cutting corners.
What are the top 10 workplace injuries? ›
- Slip and fall. According to OSHA, slip and fall accidents account for about 25% of all workplace injuries. ...
- Struck by moving object. ...
- Struck against stationary objects. ...
- Overexertion. ...
- Repetitive motion injuries (RMI's) ...
- Electrocution. ...
- Entanglement. ...
- Motor vehicle accidents.
Education and health services– experienced the highest injury and illness rate involving days away from work per 10,000 workers.
What were the top 6 reasons for accidents? ›- Distracted Driving. Distracted driving is the most common cause of motor vehicle accidents in the United States. ...
- Speeding. ...
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs. ...
- Aggressive Driving. ...
- Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel. ...
- Adverse Weather Conditions.
Slip – This incident occurs when you lose balance because there is not enough friction between the floor and your foot. Wet floors are the most common cause of slips, and wearing the wrong shoes or being in a hurry can increase your risk of injury.
What percentage of on the job injuries are unavoidable? ›“Unsafe act or mechanical or physical hazard” lines up with Heinrich's third, and arguably most controversial, axiom: “The unsafe acts of persons are responsible for the majority of accidents.” According to Heinrich, 88 percent of accidents are caused by unsafe acts of persons and 10 percent by unsafe machines (with 2 ...
Are workplace injuries increasing? ›There were 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2020, a 5.7-percent decrease from 2019. Private industry employers experienced a 21.5-percent decrease in workplace injuries in 2020, while illness cases more than quadrupled over the year.
What is the best way to avoid tripping at the workplace? ›- Keep walking surfaces clean and free of clutter. By keeping walkways clear, you can quickly reduce the potential for injury. ...
- Stairways & Handrails. ...
- Manage cords. ...
- Footwear. ...
- Lighting. ...
- Signage. ...
- Step stools. ...
- Check floor conditions, inside and out.
Physical hazards– these are some of the most significant issues in the modern workplace. These hazards can include wet floors, trip-and-slip-hazards, poor lighting, excessive noise, extremes in temperature, and so many others.
Where do the majority of slips take place? ›Homes, nursing homes, and workplaces are the most common places people experience a slip and fall but they are far from the only places they occur. From shopping malls to city parks, slip hazards can be present anywhere people are.
What percentage of all workplace injuries were slips and trips in 2017 2018? ›Common Workplace Injuries:
31% Slips, trips and falls on the same level. 21% Handling, lifting, carrying. 10% Struck by object.
How many people suffer from slips trips and falls at work in the UK? ›
Research now shows that workplace slips, trips and falls result in employers annually spending over £73m on employee leave. The HSE report that during 2017-18, 31% of all non-fatal workplace injuries were caused by slips, trips and falls, with an estimated 172,050 cases being self-reported by employees.
What's the most common type of injury caused by slips and trips? ›Injuries caused by slips, trips and falls
The most common injuries from these types of accidents, unsurprisingly, are fractures and dislocated joints. These are most commonly to the ankle or wrist, but fractures to fingers are also common.
Although difficult to control, approximately 80-95 percent of all accidents are triggered by unsafe behaviors, which tend to interact with other negative features (termed Pathogens) inherent in workflow processes or present in the working environment.
How many workplace injuries occur each year? ›There are about 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually. Occupational injuries are a commonplace occurrence, with 340 million occupational accidents happening every year. There are 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually.
What are the top 5 workplace injuries? ›- Trips, Slips And Falls. ...
- Being Struck By Or Caught In Moving Machinery. ...
- Vehicle Related Accidents. ...
- Fire And Explosions. ...
- Repetitive Stress and Overexertion Injuries.
The most commonly occurring non-fatal accident in every workplace is through a slip, trip or fall as it can occur anywhere at any time.
Which of the following is the biggest cause of trip accidents? ›The majority of trips are caused by obstructions in walkways. The rest are caused by uneven surfaces. Preventing these accidents is often simple and cost-effective. You need to get all three right (walkways, housekeeping and design and maintenance), to prevent tripping accidents.
What percentage of accidents are caused by manual handling 2020? ›Potential risks
One in three accidents at work are caused by manual handling.
The great majority of such accidents occur on the floor, followed by stairs.
What are the 3 main control measures for slips trips and falls? ›keeping walking areas clear from clutter or obstructions. keeping flooring in good condition. always using installed light sources that provide sufficient light for your tasks.
What are the 2 most common injuries on the job? ›
1, Slips, trips, and falls
The National Safety Council (NSC) says that the top three leading causes of work-related injuries are overexertion, bodily reaction and slips, trips, and falls. These account for a whopping 84 per cent of all nonfatal injuries at work, says the NSC.
“About 80 per cent of road crashes are caused by human errors because most of the crashes are avoidable and preventable, “he said.
What is accident statistics? ›What Does Accident Statistics Mean? Accident statistics include a record of road crash statistics and can be used to identify hazardous driving locations. In doing so, distinction is made between accidents based on accident experiences and accidents based on the specific geographic or physical features of the location.