Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, 2024

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released the collected data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary for 2024.

This survey collects the total number of fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2024 as well as worker characteristics, type of event or exposure and occupation data.

According to the BLS, 5,070 fatal work injuries occurred in the United States in 2024. This total is down 4% from 2023.

Key Findings

A 16.2% decrease in fatalities due to exposure to harmful substances or environments was a driving factor in the overall drop in fatal injury rate.

Drug or alcohol overdoses are the number one cause of these types of fatalities, but also saw a drop from 512 deaths in 2023 to 410 deaths in 2024.

Worker Characteristics

The fatal injury counts for Black or African American workers decreased in 2024 to 624 from 659 in 2023.

The fatal injury rate for Hispanic or Latino workers dropped to 4.3 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024 from a rate of 4.4 in 2023.

Women made up 8.1% of all worker fatalities but 15.3% of fatalities due to homicides in 2024.

Type of Fatal Event or Exposure

Transportation incidents were the most frequent cause of fatal injury in 2024, accounting for 38.2% of all occupational fatalities that year. However, the total number of fatal transportation incidents dropped to 1,937 in 2024 from 1,942 in 2023.

Falls, slips, and trips are another common cause of worker fatalities, but decreased 4.6% from 885 in 2023 to 844 in 2024. In 2024, over 10% of these fatalities resulted from a fall from a height over 30 feet.

Fatalities due to violent acts also decreased slightly, to 733 in 2024 from 740 in 2023.

Occupation

Construction workers saw the second highest number of work-related fatalities in 2024, after transportation workers. In the construction industry, falls, slips and trips caused 370 fatalities in 2024, down 7.5% from 400 in 2023.

Building and ground cleaning occupations and maintenance workers saw an increase in fatalities from 2023 to 2024 as did protective service occupations.

Fatal injuries are the worst-case-scenario on a jobsite and serve as a reminder of how important it is for employees to be properly trained on all safe working procedures. Rancho Mesa clients can use safety trainings and toolbox talks in the SafetyOne™ app to ensure their employees are prepared for the dangers and risks on a jobsite.

A library of 52 driver-specific toolbox talks is available through SafetyOne to aid in the prevention of transportation incidents that could be fatal. Slip, trip, and fall prevention toolbox talks are also available in SafetyOne.

Additionally, Rancho Mesa is hosting a Ladder Safety workshop on Friday, March 13th, 2026 at 9:00 AM. This workshop will address common causes of ladder-related injuries and how to keep workers safe when they are required to use ladders.

Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases 2023-2024 Occupational Injury/Illness Data

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the collected data of employer-reported workplace injuries and illnesses for 2023-2024.

What the Data Shows

In 2024, private industry employers reported 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses which is down 3.1% from 2023. These latest numbers are also the lowest number of employer-reported injuries and illnesses since 2003. And, no industry sectors saw an increase in reported cases.

In a two-year period (2023-2024), 1.8 million cases involved time away from work and on average resulted in a median of 8 days off of the job. 1.1 million resulted in cases that involved job transfer or restriction, with a median of 15 days of transfer or restriction reported.

Additionally, over the same two-year period, overexertion and repetitive motion were the most common causes of injury (i.e., 946,290 cases) that resulted in days away from work, job  restriction, or transfer (DART). Furthermore, 860,050 cases were attributed to contact incidents. Falls, slips, and trips were the third most common cause of DART cases, followed by exposure to harmful substances or environments, transportation incidents, and violent acts.

How to Respond

First, speak to your insurance broker. They can discuss the benefits of a strong return‑to‑work program and how it can help mitigate the impact of workers’ compensation claims. With a substantial portion of workplace incidents leading to time off or modified duties, businesses that provide structured pathways for employees to safely return to their roles can limit losses of productivity and maintain consistency in their workflows. Effective return‑to‑work strategies also strengthen employee morale and retention by demonstrating a commitment to worker well‑being.

Prioritizing protections against overexertion and strain injuries is essential, as we see these types of incidents causing the most disruption to normal work duties. Because these types of injuries frequently lead to restricted tasks or days away from work, preventing them can help reduce the costs associated with medical care, lost productivity, and temporary reassignment. Investment in ergonomic equipment and training can reduce the likelihood of preventable injuries and fosters a culture of safety.

Rancho Mesa Resources

In our RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal, we have a Fitness for Duty Certification form which is completed by a healthcare professional and used to assess if the employee can return to work without restrictions or if any modifications or restrictions are needed. We also have a Release and Return to Work Acknowledgement letter that can be customized to outline the  employee’s temporary or permanent modified duties. . These documents ensure both the employer and employee have the same expectations when they return to work.

While an employee is on modified duty, online safety training in the SafetyOne™ platform can be used as the employee fully recovers. These safety trainings can be used to teach proper ergonomics, mobility and stretch, lifting techniques and many others

Contact your client technology team with any questions about accessing Rancho Mesa’s safety resources.