A look at work injuries, illnesses, and fatalities on Workers' Memorial Day

April 28 is Workers’ Memorial Day, a day to commemorate people who die, become disabled, or are injured on the job. In 2018, 5,250 workers in the United States suffered fatal work injuries. That was a 2-percent increase from 2017 and was the highest number of fatal work injuries in a decade. Transportation incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event. In 2018, there were 2,080 such fatalities, accounting for 40 percent of all work-related deaths.

The largest decrease in fatal injuries in 2018 was from falls, slips, and trips, with 96 fewer cases than in 2017. The largest increase in 2018 was from contact with objects and equipment, with 91 more cases than in 2017. Fatal injuries in 2018 resulting from exposure to harmful substances or environments increased by 90 cases from 2017.

There were also 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2018, unchanged from 2017. Overexertion and bodily reaction resulted in 282,860 nonfatal injuries and illnesses with days away from work in private industry during 2018. That was 31 percent of the total.

Another 27 percent of cases resulted from falls, slips, and trips. Twenty-six percent resulted from contact with objects and equipment. Transportation incidents represented 6 percent of nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in private industry during 2018.

These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To learn more, see "National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2018" and "Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses — 2018." More charts are available on fatal work injuries and nonfatal injuries and illnesses.