News Release Information
26-473-CHI
Friday, March 27, 2026
Fatal Work Injuries in Wisconsin — 2024
Fatal work injuries totaled 109 in 2024 for Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin was down 2.7 percent from 112 in 2023. (See chart 1.) The fatal work injury rate was 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024, a decrease from a rate of 3.9 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, Wisconsin, 2015–24| Year | Total | Wage and salary | Self-employed |
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2015 | 104 | 65 | 39 |
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2016 | 105 | 67 | 38 |
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2017 | 106 | 66 | 40 |
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2018 | 114 | 78 | 36 |
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2019 | 113 | 77 | 36 |
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2020 | 108 | 64 | 44 |
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2021 | 105 | 84 | 21 |
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2022 | 125 | 93 | 32 |
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2023 | 112 | 76 | 36 |
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2024 | 109 | 67 | 42 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Transportation incidents (30) were the most frequent type of fatal event in Wisconsin, accounting for 28 percent of all fatal work injuries in the state. Nationally the share was 38 percent. Worker deaths from transportation incidents were down from 37 over the year. (See chart 2 and table 1.)
Falls, slips, trips (22) accounted for 20 percent of Wisconsin worker fatalities; nationally the share was 17 percent. Worker deaths from falls, slips, and trips were up from 17 over the year.
Chart 2. Percent distribution of total fatal occupational injuries by event, United States and Wisconsin, 2024| Event | United States | Wisconsin |
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Transportation incidents | 38 | 28 |
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Falls, slips, trips | 17 | 20 |
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Exposure to harmful substances, environments | 14 | 17 |
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Contact incidents | 15 | 17 |
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All other | 17 | 17 |
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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 30, up from 19 the previous year. (See table 2.)
Contact incidents resulted in 13 of the 30 agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector fatalities, followed by transportation incidents (11).
Within the major group, cattle ranching and farming accounted for 12 of the major group’s 30 fatal workplace injuries.
OccupationTransportation and material moving workers had the highest number of fatal workplace injuries with 19, down by seven over the year. Transportation incidents resulted in 12 fatal work injuries among these workers. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers accounted for 9 of the major group’s 19 fatal workplace injuries. (See table 3.)
Fatal work injuries increased by six over the year in the farming, fishing, and forestry occupational group. Contact incidents resulted in 8 of the 15 fatal work injuries among these workers.
Worker characteristicsWage and salary workers accounted for 61 percent of fatal workplace injuries in Wisconsin; the self-employed comprised the remaining 39 percent. (See chart 1 and table 4.) Nationally, wage and salary workers comprised 82 percent of fatalities.
Males accounted for 86 percent of the work-related fatalities in Wisconsin and 92 percent nationally.
White non-Hispanics accounted for 83 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 50 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 47 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2024, compared to 37 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
Fatalities increased from 20 in 2023 to 28 in 2024 for workers aged 65 and over.
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 thanks the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for their efforts in collecting accurate, comprehensive, and useful data on fatal work injuries. BLS also 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, Wisconsin, 2023–24| Event or Exposure | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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All events and exposures | 112 | 109 | 100 |
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Violent acts | 15 | 15 | 14 |
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Homicides (violent acts by other person) | 9 | 9 | 8 |
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Shooting by other person | -- | 6 | 6 |
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Suicides (intentional self-harm) | 6 | 6 | 6 |
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Intentional self-harm-- hanging, strangulation, asphyxiation | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Transportation incidents | 37 | 30 | 28 |
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Pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles | 6 | 7 | 6 |
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Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle | 21 | 10 | 9 |
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Roadway collision with other vehicle(s) | 9 | 6 | 6 |
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Roadway collision with other vehicle(s)-moving in opposite directions, oncoming | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Roadway noncollision incident | 6 | 4 | 4 |
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Roadway noncollision- vehicle overturn | 4 | 4 | 4 |
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Nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles | 7 | 9 | 8 |
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Nonroadway noncollision incident | 6 | 6 | 6 |
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Explosions and fires | -- | -- | -- |
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Falls, slips, trips | 17 | 22 | 20 |
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Fall to lower level | 13 | 17 | 16 |
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Other fall to lower level | 11 | 14 | 13 |
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Other fall to lower level- 6 to 30 feet | 7 | 10 | 9 |
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Exposure to harmful substances, environments | 19 | 19 | 17 |
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Exposure to harmful substances | 13 | 13 | 12 |
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Contact incidents | 23 | 19 | 17 |
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Contact with animals | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Struck by animal | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Collapse, engulfment | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object | 13 | 4 | 4 |
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Struck, caught, or compressed by running powered equipment | 7 | 6 | 6 |
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Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily condition | -- | -- | -- |
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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, Wisconsin, 2023–24| Industry | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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Total | 112 | 109 | 100 |
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Private industry | 101 | 106 | 97 |
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Natural resources and mining | -- | 31 | 28 |
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Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 19 | 30 | 28 |
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Crop production | 5 | 13 | 12 |
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Oilseed and grain farming | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Vegetable and melon farming | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Vegetable and melon farming | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Potato farming | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Animal production and aquaculture | 9 | 15 | 14 |
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Cattle ranching and farming | 8 | 12 | 11 |
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Dairy cattle and milk production | 5 | 7 | 6 |
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Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Mining (except oil and gas) | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Sand, gravel, clay, and ceramic and refractory minerals mining and quarrying | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Construction sand and gravel mining | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Construction | 13 | 16 | 15 |
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Construction | 13 | 16 | 15 |
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Construction of buildings | 4 | 5 | 5 |
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Residential building construction | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Residential building construction | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Heavy and civil engineering construction | 1 | 3 | 3 |
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Specialty trade contractors | 7 | 7 | 6 |
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Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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Building finishing contractors | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Manufacturing | 17 | 6 | 6 |
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Manufacturing | 17 | 6 | 6 |
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Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Trade, transportation, and utilities | -- | -- | -- |
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Retail trade | 4 | 3 | 3 |
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Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 13 | 12 |
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Truck transportation | 13 | 7 | 6 |
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General freight trucking | 8 | 3 | 3 |
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Specialized freight trucking | 5 | 3 | 3 |
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Information | -- | -- | -- |
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Financial activities | -- | -- | -- |
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Professional and business services | 6 | 5 | 5 |
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Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 4 | 5 | 5 |
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Administrative and support services | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Educational and health services | 5 | -- | -- |
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Health care and social assistance | 4 | 8 | 7 |
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Ambulatory health care services | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Leisure and hospitality | -- | 14 | 13 |
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Arts, entertainment, and recreation | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Accommodation and food services | 5 | 11 | 10 |
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Other services (except public administration) | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Other services (except public administration) | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Repair and maintenance | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Government | 11 | 3 | 3 |
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Federal government | -- | -- | -- |
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State government | 3 | -- | -- |
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Local government | 8 | -- | -- |
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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, Wisconsin, 2023–24| Occupation | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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All occupations | 112 | 109 | 100 |
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Management occupations | 16 | 17 | 16 |
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Business and financial operations occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Computer and mathematical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Architecture and engineering occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Life, physical, and social science occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Community and social service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Legal occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Educational instruction and library occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations | 1 | 4 | 4 |
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Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Healthcare support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Protective service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Food preparation and serving related occupations | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Personal care and service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Sales and related occupations | 3 | -- | -- |
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Office and administrative support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | 9 | 15 | 14 |
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Supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | -- | 5 | 5 |
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First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | -- | 5 | 5 |
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First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Agricultural workers | 6 | 10 | 9 |
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Miscellaneous agricultural workers | 6 | 10 | 9 |
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Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals | -- | 6 | 6 |
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Construction and extraction occupations | 15 | 14 | 13 |
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Supervisors of construction and extraction workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Construction trades workers | 7 | 11 | 10 |
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Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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Cement masons and concrete finishers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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Construction laborers | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Construction laborers | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | 11 | 11 | 10 |
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Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Production occupations | 10 | 6 | 6 |
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Metal workers and plastic workers | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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Transportation and material moving occupations | 26 | 19 | 17 |
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Motor vehicle operators | 21 | 11 | 10 |
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Driver/sales workers and truck drivers | -- | 11 | 10 |
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Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | -- | 9 | 8 |
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Material moving workers | -- | 4 | 4 |
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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, Wisconsin, 2023–24| Demographic | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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Total | 112 | 109 | 100 |
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Employee status | |
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Wage and salary workers | 76 | 67 | 61 |
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Self-employed | 36 | 42 | 39 |
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Sex | |
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Male | 98 | 94 | 86 |
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Female | 14 | 15 | 14 |
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Age | |
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Under 16 years | -- | -- | -- |
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16 to 17 years | -- | -- | -- |
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18 to 19 years | -- | -- | -- |
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20 to 24 years | 7 | -- | -- |
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25 to 34 years | 17 | 17 | 16 |
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35 to 44 years | 18 | 17 | 16 |
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45 to 54 years | 21 | 21 | 19 |
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55 to 64 years | 27 | 23 | 21 |
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65 years and over | 20 | 28 | 26 |
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Race or ethnic origin | |
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White, non-Hispanic | 95 | 90 | 83 |
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Black or African-American, non-Hispanic | 7 | 7 | 6 |
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Hispanic or Latino | 7 | 10 | 9 |
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American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
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Asian, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
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Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
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Person of multiple races, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
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Other or not reported, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
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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
