The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) report, revealing a 3.7% decrease in workplace fatalities in 2023 compared to the previous year. The report highlights key trends in occupational safety across various industries and demographics.
Key findings from the report include:
A total of 5,283 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2023, down from 5,486 in 2022.
The fatal work injury rate decreased to 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, compared to 3.7 in 2022.
Transportation incidents continued to be the most frequent type of fatal event, accounting for 36.8% (1,942) of all occupational fatalities.
The construction industry had the highest number of fatalities (1,075) among all sectors, with falls, slips, and trips being the leading cause.
Fatalities among Black or African American workers decreased by 10.2%, while the rate for Hispanic or Latino workers also saw a slight decline.
Women accounted for 8.5% (447) of all fatalities but represented 18.3% (84) of workplace homicides.
The report also noted changes in specific sectors and occupations. The transportation and warehousing sector, while still having the second-highest number of fatalities, saw an 11.7% decrease from the previous year. Additionally, workers in transportation and material moving occupations experienced a 7.7% decline in fatalities.
