News Release Information
26-471-CHI
Friday, March 27, 2026
Fatal Work Injuries in North Dakota — 2024
Fatal work injuries totaled 28 in 2024 for North Dakota, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the number of work-related fatalities in North Dakota was up from 26 in 2023. (See chart 1.) The fatal work injury rate was 6.8 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024, similar to the rate of 6.9 in 2023. Nationwide, a total of 5,070 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2024, a 4.0-percent decrease from 5,283 in 2023. These data are from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).
Chart 1. Number of fatal occupational injuries by employee status, North Dakota, 2015–24| Year | Total | Wage and salary | Self-employed |
|---|
2015 | 47 | 37 | 10 |
|---|
2016 | 28 | 19 | 9 |
|---|
2017 | 38 | 33 | 5 |
|---|
2018 | 35 | 20 | 15 |
|---|
2019 | 37 | 28 | 9 |
|---|
2020 | 26 | 15 | 11 |
|---|
2021 | 34 | 23 | 11 |
|---|
2022 | 37 | 27 | 10 |
|---|
2023 | 26 | 20 | 6 |
|---|
2024 | 28 | 20 | 8 |
|---|
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Transportation incidents (13) were the most frequent type of fatal event in North Dakota, accounting for 46 percent of all fatal work injuries in the state. Nationally the share was 38 percent. (See chart 2 and table 1.)
Contact incidents (7) accounted for 25 percent of North Dakota worker fatalities; nationally the share was 15 percent.
Chart 2. Percent distribution of total fatal occupational injuries by event, United States and North Dakota, 2024| Event | United States | North Dakota |
|---|
Transportation incidents | 38 | 46 |
|---|
Contact incidents | 15 | 25 |
|---|
Falls, slips, trips | 17 | 18 |
|---|
All other | 30 | 11 |
|---|
Note: Percents may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
The agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector had the highest number of fatalities with nine, up from five the previous year. (See table 2.)
Within the sector, contact incidents resulted in four fatalities.
The crop production subsector accounted for seven of the sector’s fatal workplace injuries.
OccupationWorker characteristicsWage and salary workers accounted for 71 percent of fatal workplace injuries in North Dakota; the self-employed comprised the remaining 29 percent. (See chart 1 and table 4.) Nationally, wage and salary workers comprised 82 percent of fatalities.
White non-Hispanics accounted for 82 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 56 percent of work-related deaths.
Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 25 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities, compared to 55 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally. Workers aged 55 years and older accounted for 57 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2024, compared to 37 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
Workers 55-64 years old had an increase in worker fatalities from 5 in 2023 to 12 in 2024, the largest increase by group.
Technical Note
Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, is a count of all fatalities resulting from workplace injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. For technical information and definitions for the CFOI, see the national CFOI release Technical notes, the BLS Handbook of Methods, and the CFOI definitions.
Acknowledgments. BLS appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that provided source documents used to identify fatal work injuries nationally. See the national CFOI release Technical Notes for details on cooperating entities.
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 event or exposure, North Dakota, 2023–24| Event or Exposure | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
|---|
All events and exposures | 26 | 28 | 100 |
|---|
Violent acts | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Transportation incidents | 12 | 13 | 46 |
|---|
Explosions and fires | 1 | -- | -- |
|---|
Falls, slips, trips | 6 | 5 | 18 |
|---|
Exposure to harmful substances, environments | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Contact incidents | 3 | 7 | 25 |
|---|
Collapse, engulfment | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Collapse, engulfment- loose materials or liquids | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Contact with non-running objects or equipment | -- | 3 | 11 |
|---|
Overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily condition | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Note: 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. 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. |
Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, North Dakota, 2023–24| Industry | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
|---|
Total | 26 | 28 | 100 |
|---|
Private industry | 21 | 28 | 100 |
|---|
Natural resources and mining | 7 | 13 | 46 |
|---|
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 5 | 9 | 32 |
|---|
Crop production | 3 | 7 | 25 |
|---|
Other crop farming | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Hay farming | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Animal production and aquaculture | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Cattle ranching and farming | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Support activities for agriculture and forestry | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Support activities for crop production | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Support activities for crop production | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 2 | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Support activities for mining | 2 | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Support activities for mining | 2 | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Support activities for mining | 2 | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Construction | -- | 3 | 11 |
|---|
Construction | -- | 3 | 11 |
|---|
Heavy and civil engineering construction | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Specialty trade contractors | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Building equipment contractors | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Nonresidential electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Manufacturing | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Trade, transportation, and utilities | 7 | -- | -- |
|---|
Information | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Financial activities | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Professional and business services | 3 | -- | -- |
|---|
Educational and health services | 1 | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Health care and social assistance | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Hospitals | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Leisure and hospitality | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Other services (except public administration) | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Other services (except public administration) | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Religious organizations | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Religious organizations | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Government | 5 | -- | -- |
|---|
Federal government | 2 | -- | -- |
|---|
State government | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Local government | 3 | -- | -- |
|---|
Note: 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. 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. |
Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, North Dakota, 2023–24| Occupation | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
|---|
All occupations | 26 | 28 | 100 |
|---|
Management occupations | 3 | 5 | 18 |
|---|
Other management occupations | 3 | 5 | 18 |
|---|
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers | 3 | 5 | 18 |
|---|
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers | 3 | 5 | 18 |
|---|
Business and financial operations occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Computer and mathematical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Architecture and engineering occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Life, physical, and social science occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Community and social service occupations | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Religious workers | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Miscellaneous religious workers | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Legal occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Educational instruction and library occupations | 1 | -- | -- |
|---|
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Healthcare support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Protective service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Food preparation and serving related occupations | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Cooks and food preparation workers | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Personal care and service occupations | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Other personal care and service workers | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Recreation and fitness workers | -- | 2 | 7 |
|---|
Sales and related occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Office and administrative support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | -- | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Agricultural workers | -- | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Miscellaneous agricultural workers | -- | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | -- | 3 | 11 |
|---|
Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Construction and extraction occupations | -- | 5 | 18 |
|---|
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Other construction and related workers | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Production occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Transportation and material moving occupations | 11 | 7 | 25 |
|---|
Note: 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. 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. |
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, North Dakota, 2023–24| Demographic | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
|---|
Total | 26 | 28 | 100 |
|---|
Employee status | |
|---|
Wage and salary workers | 20 | 20 | 71 |
|---|
Self-employed | 6 | 8 | 29 |
|---|
Sex | |
|---|
Male | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Female | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Age | |
|---|
Under 16 years | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
16 to 17 years | -- | 1 | 4 |
|---|
18 to 19 years | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
20 to 24 years | -- | 4 | 14 |
|---|
25 to 34 years | -- | 4 | 14 |
|---|
35 to 44 years | 6 | 3 | 11 |
|---|
45 to 54 years | 4 | -- | -- |
|---|
55 to 64 years | 5 | 12 | 43 |
|---|
65 years and over | 7 | 4 | 14 |
|---|
Race or ethnic origin | |
|---|
White, non-Hispanic | 24 | 23 | 82 |
|---|
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Hispanic or Latino | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Asian, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Person of multiple races, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Other or not reported, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Note: 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. 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. |
Last Modified Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
United States Department of Labor
