Worker Health Surveillance

Estimates of Deaths from Work-related Injuries

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) is a Federal-State cooperative program that produces counts of fatal work-related injuries. Since 1992, it has been implemented in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data compiled by the CFOI program are issued yearly for the preceding calendar year. According to BLS, these data help prevent fatal work injuries by:

Informing workers of life threatening hazards associated with various jobs;
Promoting safer work practices through enhanced job safety training;
Assessing and improving workplace safety standards; and
Identifying new areas of safety research.

Learn more about deaths from work-related injuries in the charts below. The data used to prepare these charts can be found on the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries page.

In 2015, the rate of fatal workplace injuries was highest among workers employed in all private industry at 3.6 per 100,000 workers. In the public sector, the death rate for workers in local government was highest at 2.6 and lowest for workers employed in state and federal government at 1.3.

Rates of fatal workplace injuries, 1992–2015, BLS*

In 2015, nearly 60% of all fatal injuries occurred among workers age 25–54. The highest percent and number of deaths due to workplace injuries (23.4% and 1,130 deaths) were reported for workers age 45–54.The rate of fatal workplace injuries increased with age, from 2.7 for 20–24 year old workers to 9.4among workers 65 years and older.

Number and rate of fatal workplace injuries by age, 2015, BLS*

In 2015, the U.S. rate was 3.4. The fatal workplace injury rates varied by state from 1.2 to 12.5 workers. Mississippi (6.8), Montana (7.5), Wyoming (12.0), and North Dakota (12.5) had the highest rates of deaths due to workplace injuries

Rate of fatal workplace injuries by State, 2015, BLS*

Number and rate of fatal workplace injuries among workers by sex, 2006–2015

Overall from 2006-2015, rates among non-Hispanic White and Black or African American workers were similar. In 2015, the national rate was 3.4.Rates among Hispanic workers were consistently higher than all other races; in 2015, the rate was 4.0. The rates for non-Hispanic Whites, Black or African American, and Asian were 3.5, 3.2, and 1.4, respectively.

RRate of fatal workplace injuries among workers by race or ethnicity, 2006-2015, BLS*

The average 10-year fatality rate for all workers is 3.6. Within each occupational category, the following are above the national average for workplace injury fatality rate:Among workers in the occupational categories with over 9 million workers:Transportation and Material Moving =15.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.Among workers in the occupational categories with 6 million to 9 million workers: Construction = 12.4 deaths per 100,000 workers.Among workers in the occupational categories with 3 million to 6 million workers: Protective Services = 7.7; Installation, Maintenance and Repair = 7.3; Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance = 5.5.Among workers in the occupational categories with less than 3 million workers: Farming, Fishing and Forestry = 26.1.

Average rate of fatal workplace injuries by occupational category, 2006-2015, BLS*

In 2015, 1,264 fatal occupational injuries were associated with highway incidents. The number of fall-related deaths, homicides, and struck by object deaths were 800, 417, and 519, respectively.

Number of fatal workplace injuries caused by highway incidents, homicides, falls, and struck by objects, 1992-2015, BLS*

The overall average 10-year fatality rate is 3.6 per 100,000 worker. All industries with over 12 million workers (manufacturing, retail trades, educational services, and health care and social assistance) have lower than average rates of fatal workplace injuries.The following industries have above the national average for workplace injury fatality rate:Industries with 8 million to 12 million workers: Construction = 10 deaths per 100,000 workersIndustries with 4 million to 8 million workers: Transportation and Warehousing = 14.6; Management, Administrative, and Waste Services = 6.3.Industries with less than 4 million workers: Farming, Fishing and Forestry = 26.1; Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction = 16.5; Wholesale Trade = 4.9.

Average rate of fatal workplace injuries by industry and industry size, 2006-2015, BLS*

Rate of fatal workplace injuries among workers in public and private industry, 2006-2015, BLS*

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Page last reviewed: August 24, 2017
Page last updated: August 24, 2017
Content source:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies (DSHEFS)

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Worker Health Surveillance

Estimates of Deaths from Work-related Injuries

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