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5,250 fatal workplace injuries occurred in 2018

December 23, 2019

There were 5,250 fatal workplace injuries across all industries and ownerships in 2018, an increase of 103 from 2017. The fatality rate was unchanged from 2017 at 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time workers. From 1992 to 2018, there were nearly 150,000 fatal work injuries in the United States.

Number of fatal work injuries, 1992–2018
Year Fatal work injuries

1992

6,217

1993

6,331

1994

6,632

1995

6,275

1996

6,202

1997

6,238

1998

6,055

1999

6,054

2000

5,920

2001

5,915

2002

5,534

2003

5,575

2004

5,764

2005

5,734

2006

5,840

2007

5,657

2008

5,214

2009

4,551

2010

4,690

2011

4,693

2012

4,628

2013

4,585

2014

4,821

2015

4,836

2016

5,190

2017

5,147

2018

5,250

In 2018, there were 96 fewer fatal falls, slips, and trips than in 2017. This decrease was more than offset by an increase of 91 cases in fatal contact with objects and equipment and an increase of 90 cases in exposure to harmful substances or environments.

Number of fatal work injuries by event or exposure, 2016–18
Event or exposure 2016 2017 2018

Transportation incidents

2,083 2,077 2,080

Falls, slips, trips

849 887 791

Violence and other injuries by person or animal

866 807 828

Contact with objects and equipment

761 695 786

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

518 531 621

Fires and explosions

88 123 115

These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To learn more, see “National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2018.” We also have more charts on fatal workplace injuries.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, 5,250 fatal workplace injuries occurred in 2018 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2019/5250-fatal-workplace-injuries-occurred-in-2018.htm (visited March 19, 2024).

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