Workplace deaths remain concentrated in five deadly hazards as U.S. fatality rate holds steady
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new national study reveals that five specific hazards continue to account for nearly all U.S. workplace deaths, despite an overall drop in nonfatal injuries. While 2023 saw an 8.4% decline in injury numbers, 5,283 workers still lost their lives on the job — with transportation incidents, falls, toxic exposures, equipment contact, and workplace violence combining to make up over 98% of all fatalities.
The data, published by Pegasus Legal Capital, LLC, paints a sobering picture: every day, 14 workers die on the job, and the nation’s most dangerous occupations remain virtually unchanged.
Here is the breakdown of the top five fatal hazards:
| Hazard Category | Deaths | Share of All Deaths (%) | Most Affected Occupation Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation incidents | 1,942 | 36.9% | Transportation and material moving (28%) |
| Falls, slips, and trips | 885 | 16.8% | Construction and extraction (20%) |
| Exposure to harmful substances | 820 | 15.6% | Service occupations (15%) |
| Contact with objects/equipment | 779 | 14.8% | Installation, maintenance, repair (8%) |
| Violence and animal attacks | 740 | 14.0% | Service occupations (15%) |
Transportation incidents remain the top killer by far, often occurring on highways, in warehouse yards, and at busy distribution hubs. Nearly 2,000 workers died in transportation-related incidents last year, most of them in material moving jobs such as trucking, delivery, and freight operations.
Falls, slips, and trips caused 885 deaths, disproportionately affecting the construction industry. Rooftop work, scaffolding, and unsecured edges continue to pose major risks.
Exposure to harmful substances claimed 820 lives, a growing category driven by chemical exposure, overdose incidents, and poor ventilation. Service occupations, including health care and janitorial roles, saw the highest toll.
Contact with objects or equipment—such as being struck by machinery or crushed during maintenance—resulted in 779 deaths. Inadequate lockout/tagout procedures and improper machine guarding remain contributing factors.
Violence and animal attacks accounted for 740 deaths, most frequently in health care, public service, and retail settings. These incidents include workplace assaults, robberies, and confrontations with aggressive individuals or animals.
The report also revealed that 36% of all nonfatal injuries occurred among first-year employees, suggesting major vulnerabilities during onboarding and training.
In total, U.S. employers lost more than 103 million workdays due to injury in 2023, with economic losses totaling $176.5 billion. That includes $53.1 billion in lost productivity and $36.8 billion in medical expenses.
Tennessee recorded the highest state-level fatality rate at 5.4 deaths per 100,000 workers — more than 50% above the national average of 3.5.
Meanwhile, federal oversight remains limited. OSHA conducted 34,600 inspections in fiscal year 2024, but only 2,000 inspectors were available to monitor over 11.5 million workplaces — a ratio of one inspector per 5,750 job sites.
Pegasus Legal Capital warned that this persistent concentration of fatal hazards creates significant legal exposure for employers. “This BLS data establishes constructive notice of preventable dangers,” the firm stated. “Employers failing to act may face massive punitive damages in wrongful death litigation.”
With large-scale construction projects, seasonal labor expansion, and rising climate-related threats on the horizon, experts warn that workplace fatalities could rise in 2025 unless hazard-specific interventions are implemented immediately.