For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, February 19, 2026 USDL-26-0230
Technical information: (202) 691-6170 • iifstaff@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/iif
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2024
There were 5,070 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2024, down 4.0 percent from 5,283 in
2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart 1 and table 1.) The fatal work injury rate
was 3.3 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024, a decrease from a rate of 3.5 in 2023.
(See chart 2.) These data are from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).
(Charts 1 and 2 appear here in the printed release)
Key findings
- A worker died every 104 minutes from a work-related injury in 2024 compared to 99 minutes in 2023.
- The fatal injury rate of 3.3 fatalities per 100,000 FTE workers decreased for the second year in a row.
- The decrease in fatal injuries in 2024 was largely driven by a 16.2 percent drop in fatalities due to
exposure to harmful substances or environments (to 687 cases from 820). This decrease was in turn
driven by a decline in drug or alcohol overdoses which accounted for 59.7 percent of fatalities in this
category, dropping to 410 fatal injuries in 2024 from 512 fatalities in 2023.
- Workers in transportation and material moving occupations represented the occupational group with the
most fatalities with 1,391 fatal work injuries in 2024, though this was a 7.0-percent decrease from 2023
(1,495). The fatality rate for these workers was 12.5 fatalities per 100,000 FTE workers in 2024, down
from 13.6 in 2023.
Worker characteristics
- The fatal injury count and rate for Black or African American workers decreased in 2024. The count
decreased to 624 in 2024 from 659 in 2023 and the rate decreased to 3.4 fatalities per 100,000 FTE
workers in 2024 from 3.6 in 2023.
- The fatal injury rate for Hispanic or Latino workers dropped to 4.3 fatalities per 100,000 FTE workers in
2024 from 4.4 in 2023. Of the 1,229 fatalities to these workers in 2024, 68.5 percent (842) occurred
among foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers.
- Women accounted for 8.1 percent (413) of all worker fatalities but 15.3 percent (72) of fatalities due to
homicides in 2024.
Fatal event or exposure
- Transportation incidents continue to be the most frequent type of fatal event, accounting for 38.2 percent
of all occupational fatalities in 2024. The total number of fatal transportation incidents decreased to
1,937 in 2024 from 1,942 in 2023.
- Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles decreased 8.5 percent to 1,146 in 2024 from 1,252
in 2023, while pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles increased 19.0 percent to 369 in
2024 from 310 in 2023.
- Fatal falls, slips, and trips decreased 4.6 percent to 844 in 2024 from 885 in 2023. In 2024, 10.8 percent
of these fatalities were a result of a worker falling from a height over 30 feet.
- Fatalities due to violent acts decreased to 733 in 2024 from 740 in 2023. Homicides accounted for 64.1
percent of this category with 470 fatalities, up from 458 in 2023. Suicides accounted for the other 35.9
percent with 263 fatalities, down from 281 in 2023.
(Chart 3 appears here in the printed release)
Occupation
- Construction and extraction workers experienced 1,032 fatalities in 2024. Fatal falls, slips, and trips
among these workers decreased 7.5 percent to 370 in 2024 from 400 in 2023.
- Work fatalities among building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers increased to 356 in 2024
from 337 in 2023.
- Fatalities among protective service occupations slightly increased to 281 in 2024 from 276 in 2023.
Homicides (97) accounted for 34.5 percent of these fatalities in 2024.
Fatal injury counts and rates by occupation, industry, and worker demographics are available at
www.bls.gov/iif/fatal-injuries-tables.htm.
TECHNICAL NOTES
Background
The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Injuries, Illnesses,
and Fatalities (IIF) program, is a count of all fatalities resulting from workplace injuries occurring in the U.S.
during the calendar year. The CFOI uses a variety of state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify,
and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2024 data, over
25,500 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and
definitions for the CFOI, see the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm and
the CFOI definitions at www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/occupational-safety-and-health-definitions.htm. Fatal injury rates
are subject to sampling error as they are calculated using employment data from the Current Population Survey, a sample
of households, and the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. For more information on sampling error,
see www.bls.gov/iif/additional-resources/reliability-of-estimates.htm.
The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), another component of the IIF program, presents frequency counts
and incidence rates by industry, detailed case circumstances, and worker characteristics for nonfatal workplace injuries
and illnesses for cases that result in days away from work and days of job transfer or restriction. For these data, go
to www.bls.gov/iif.
Identification and verification of work-related fatalities
In 2024, work relationship could not be independently verified by multiple source documents for 34 fatal work injuries.
However, the information on the initiating source document for these cases was sufficient to determine that the incident
was likely to be job-related. Data for these fatalities are included.
Federal/State agency coverage
The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, some of which may be outside the scope of other agencies or regulatory
coverage. Comparisons between CFOI counts and those released by other agencies should account for the different coverage
requirements and definitions used by each agency. For more information on the scope of CFOI,
see www.bls.gov/iif/overview/cfoi-scope.htm and www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/concepts.htm.
Latency Cases
Latent fatal occupational injury cases occur when the date of injury differs from the date of death. In some cases, the
death occurs in a different year than the occupational injury and are known as cross-year latent cases. In 2024, there were
215 cases where this occurred, and 190 of these latent cases occurred more than 30 days prior to the start of 2024. For more
information on latent cases, see www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-10/latency-in-fatal-occupational-injuries.htm.
Acknowledgements
BLS thanks the participating states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and
Guam for their efforts in collecting accurate, comprehensive, and useful data on fatal work injuries. Although data for
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam are not included in the national totals, results for these jurisdictions
are available. Participating agencies may be contacted to request more detailed state results. Contact information is
available at www.bls.gov/iif/state-data.htm.
BLS also appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that provided source documents
used to identify fatal work injuries. Among these agencies are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; the National
Transportation Safety Board; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Mine Safety and Health Administration; the Office of Workers’
Compensation Programs (Federal Employees’ Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation divisions); the Federal
Railroad Administration; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; state vital statistics registrars, coroners, and
medical examiners; state departments of health, labor, and industrial relations and workers’ compensation agencies; state
and local police departments; and state farm bureaus.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, 2020-24
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | |
| | | | |
Characteristic | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
| | | | |
____________________________________________________|__________|__________|__________|__________|__________
| | | | |
Total(1) | 4,764 | 5,190 | 5,486 | 5,283 | 5,070
| | | | |
Employee status | | | | |
Wage and salary workers(2) | 3,864 | 4,284 | 4,601 | 4,366 | 4,182
Self-employed(3) | 900 | 906 | 885 | 917 | 888
| | | | |
Sex | | | | |
Women | 387 | 448 | 445 | 447 | 413
Men | 4,377 | 4,741 | 5,041 | 4,832 | 4,657
| | | | |
Age | | | | |
Under 16 years | 14 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 15
16 to 17 years | 12 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 25
18 to 19 years | 66 | 85 | 77 | 76 | 66
20 to 24 years | 260 | 289 | 323 | 339 | 314
25 to 34 years | 833 | 882 | 962 | 921 | 851
35 to 44 years | 898 | 977 | 1,058 | 1,035 | 977
45 to 54 years | 954 | 1,087 | 1,111 | 1,042 | 967
55 to 64 years | 1,051 | 1,140 | 1,175 | 1,089 | 1,031
65 years and over | 676 | 702 | 761 | 757 | 824
| | | | |
Race or ethnic origin(4) | | | | |
White (non-Hispanic) | 2,898 | 3,103 | 3,167 | 2,963 | 2,821
Black or African-American (non-Hispanic) | 541 | 653 | 734 | 659 | 624
Hispanic or Latino | 1,072 | 1,130 | 1,248 | 1,250 | 1,229
American Indian or Alaskan Native (non-Hispanic) | 32 | 41 | 35 | 37 | 20
Asian (non-Hispanic) | 150 | 178 | 169 | 167 | 183
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 8 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 11
Multiple races (non-Hispanic) | 14 | 11 | 16 | 25 | 24
Other races or not reported (non-Hispanic) | 49 | 56 | 108 | 169 | 158
_____________________________________________________________________________________|__________|__________
1 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has published data on fatal occupational injuries for
the United States since 1992. During this time, the classification systems and definitions of many data
elements have changed. See the CFOI Definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-
occupational-injuries-definitions.htm) for a more detailed description of each data element.
2 May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. Cases where employment status
is unknown are included in the counts of wage and salary workers.
3 Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid and unpaid family
workers, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships.
4 Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude data for
Hispanics and Latinos. Cases where ethnicity is unknown are included in counts of non-Hispanic workers.
Note: Data for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not
shown separately. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City,
District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries for selected events or exposures, 2023-24
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| |
Characteristic | 2023 | 2024
| |
____________________________________________________________________________|__________|__________
| |
Total(1) | 5,283 | 5,070
| |
Event or exposure(2) | |
Violent acts | 740 | 733
Homicides | 458 | 470
Shooting by other person | 373 | 379
Stabbing, cutting, slashing by other person | 33 | 43
Suicides | 281 | 263
Transportation incidents | 1,942 | 1,937
Aircraft incidents | 98 | 109
Water vehicle incidents | 31 | 52
Rail vehicle incidents | 30 | 36
Pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles | 310 | 369
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in road work zone | 48 | 61
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle | 1,252 | 1,146
Roadway collision with other vehicle(s) | 653 | 601
Roadway collision intersecting, turning | 158 | 161
Roadway collision moving in same direction | 149 | 140
Roadway collision moving in opposite directions, oncoming | 226 | 208
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle | 349 | 331
Collision with object or animal on side of roadway | 280 | 292
Roadway noncollision incident | 242 | 208
Vehicle overturn | 190 | 154
Nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle | 205 | 210
Nonroadway noncollision incident | 153 | 159
Vehicle overturn | 92 | 98
Explosions and fires | 104 | 93
Falls, slips, trips | 885 | 844
Fall to lower level | 725 | 666
Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment | 79 | 64
Fall to lower level resulting from exposure or contact | 32 | 27
Fall to lower level resulting in exposure or contact | 38 | 39
Slip, trip, stumble or fall on same level | 140 | 150
Exposure to harmful substances, environments | 820 | 687
Exposure to electricity | 142 | 130
Exposure to temperature extremes | 56 | 53
Exposure to harmful substances | 566 | 469
Drug, alcohol overdose | 512 | 410
Inhalation of harmful substance | 44 | 45
Exposure to oxygen deficiency | 55 | 35
Contact incidents | 779 | 756
Contact with other person, nonviolent or intent unknown | 5 | 6
Contact with animals | 40 | 41
Collapse, engulfment | 73 | 80
Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object | 394 | 357
Struck, caught, or compressed by running powered equipment | 226 | 213
Contact with non-running objects or equipment | 38 | 54
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has published data on fatal occupational injuries for the
United States since 1992. During this time, the classification systems and definitions of many data elements
have changed. See the CFOI Definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries
-definitions.htm) for a more detailed description of each data element.
2 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) version 3 implemented for 2023
data forward.
Note: Data for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not
shown separately. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City,
District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries for selected occupations, 2020-24
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | |
| | | | |
Characteristic | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
| | | | |
___________________________________________________|__________|__________|__________|__________|__________
| | | | |
Total(1) | 4,764 | 5,190 | 5,486 | 5,283 | 5,070
| | | | |
Occupation (SOC)(2) | | | | |
Management occupations | 361 | 323 | 342 | 310 | 314
Business and financial operations occupations | 23 | 27 | 32 | 25 | 28
Computer and mathematical occupations | 8 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 12
Architecture and engineering occupations | 31 | 29 | 41 | 37 | 26
Life, physical, and social science occupations | 17 | 10 | 20 | 28 | 19
Community and social services occupations | 26 | 40 | 19 | 25 | 33
Legal occupations | 5 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 6
Educational instruction and library occupations | 13 | 16 | 28 | 38 | 33
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and | | | | |
media occupations | 36 | 45 | 49 | 47 | 38
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations| 51 | 57 | 65 | 59 | 53
Healthcare support occupations | 44 | 32 | 38 | 41 | 26
Protective service occupations | 229 | 302 | 335 | 276 | 281
Law enforcement workers | 115 | - | - | 97 | 132
Food preparation and serving related occupations | 82 | 101 | 123 | 106 | 103
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance | | | | |
occupations | 307 | 356 | 352 | 337 | 356
Building cleaning and pest control workers | 61 | 80 | 74 | 67 | 74
Grounds maintenance workers | 202 | 225 | 222 | 226 | 239
Personal care and service occupations | 58 | 64 | 61 | 61 | 58
Sales and related occupations | 200 | 200 | 212 | 219 | 189
Supervisors, sales workers | 73 | 70 | 67 | 58 | 49
Retail sales workers | 95 | 83 | 112 | 130 | 114
Office and administrative support occupations | 69 | 91 | 82 | 86 | 91
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | 264 | 218 | 223 | 235 | 248
Agricultural workers | 148 | 133 | 146 | 147 | 151
Fishing and hunting workers | 42 | 23 | 16 | 19 | 24
Forest, conservation, and logging workers | 42 | 46 | 55 | 55 | 53
Construction and extraction occupations | 976 | 951 | 1,056 | 1,055 | 1,032
Supervisors of construction and | | | | |
extraction workers | 88 | 117 | 113 | 113 | 105
Construction trades workers | 771 | 726 | 811 | 809 | 788
Extraction workers | 59 | 54 | 70 | 63 | 58
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | 393 | 475 | 431 | 443 | 437
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, | | | | |
installers, and repairers | 135 | 152 | 140 | 163 | 157
Production occupations | 224 | 242 | 268 | 280 | 238
Transportation and material moving occupations | 1,282 | 1,523 | 1,620 | 1,495 | 1,391
Air transportation workers | 50 | 68 | 74 | 63 | 73
Motor vehicle operators | 933 | 1,103 | 1,198 | 1,090 | 1,018
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 766 | 874 | 934 | 823 | 798
Material moving workers | 218 | 284 | 281 | 268 | 234
___________________________________________________________________________________|_____________________
1 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has published data on fatal occupational injuries
for the United States since 1992. During this time, the classification systems and definitions of many
data elements have changed. See the CFOI Definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-
occupational-injuries-definitions.htm) for a more detailed description of each data element.
2 CFOI has used several versions of the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system since 2003 to
define occupation. For complete information on the version of SOC used in these years, see the CFOI
definitions page. Cases where occupation is unknown are included in the total.
Note: Data for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories
not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.
CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state,
New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
United States Department of Labor
