There were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2023, a 3.7% decrease from the previous year, with deaths among Black workers declining the most at 10.2%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.
Transportation incidents were the most frequent cause of death, accounting for 36.8% of all occupational fatalities in 2023.
As in years past, the construction industry had the most fatalities — 1,075 — among all industry sectors in 2023, continuing a trend going back to 2011. Falls, slips and trips accounted for 39.2% of all construction fatalities, with construction site transportation incidents accounting for 22.3%.
Fatalities due to violent acts totaled 740 in 2023, down from 849 the previous year. Homicides accounted for 61.9% of violent acts and 8.7% of all work-related fatalities last year. Women comprised 8.5% of all fatalities in 2023 and 18.3% of homicides. Approximately 30% of fatalities in the retail trade sector were homicides.
This article was first published in Business Insurance.
