News Release Information
26-462-ATL
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Fatal Work Injuries in South Carolina — 2024
Fatal work injuries totaled 103 in 2024 for South Carolina, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that the number of work-related fatalities in South Carolina was down 8.0 percent from 112 in 2023. (See chart 1.) The fatal work injury rate was 4.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024, a decrease from a rate of 5.0 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, South Carolina, 2015–24| Year | Total | Wage and salary | Self-employed |
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2015 | 117 | 87 | 30 |
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2016 | 96 | 75 | 21 |
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2017 | 88 | 64 | 24 |
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2018 | 98 | 68 | 30 |
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2019 | 108 | 78 | 30 |
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2020 | 102 | 72 | 30 |
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2021 | 107 | 90 | 17 |
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2022 | 132 | 116 | 16 |
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2023 | 112 | 100 | 12 |
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2024 | 103 | 91 | 12 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Transportation incidents (40) were the most frequent type of fatal event in South Carolina, accounting for 39 percent of all fatal work injuries in the state. Nationally the share was 38 percent. Worker deaths from transportation incidents were down from 44 over the year (See chart 2 and table 1.)
Exposure to harmful substances or environments (24) accounted for 23 percent of South Carolina worker fatalities; nationally the share was 14 percent.
Chart 2. Percent distribution of total fatal occupational injuries by event, United States and South Carolina, 2024| Event | United States | South Carolina |
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Transportation incidents | 38 | 39 |
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Exposure to harmful substances, environments | 14 | 23 |
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Violent acts | 14 | 16 |
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Falls, slips, trips | 17 | 15 |
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All other | 17 | 8 |
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Note: Percents may not add to total due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
The construction sector had the highest number of fatalities with 24, down from 31 the previous year. (See table 2.)
Transportation incidents resulted in 8 of the 24 construction sector fatalities.
The specialty trade contractors subsector accounted for 16 of the sector’s fatal workplace injuries.
OccupationTransportation and material moving workers experienced the largest decrease (-15) in fatal work injuries over the year among the major occupational groups. (See table 3.)
The construction and extraction occupational group had the highest number of fatal workplace injuries with 23. Transportation incidents resulted in eight fatalities among these workers. Construction trades workers accounted for 15 of the major group’s 23 fatal workplace injuries.
Worker characteristicsWage and salary workers accounted for 88 percent of fatal workplace injuries in South Carolina; the self-employed comprised the remaining 12 percent. (See chart 1 and table 4.) Nationally, wage and salary workers comprised 82 percent of fatalities.
Males accounted for 87 percent of the work-related fatalities in South Carolina and 92 percent nationally.
Non-Hispanic Black or African American workers accounted for 25 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 12 percent of work-related deaths.
Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 64 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities, compared to 55 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
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 South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation 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.
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Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, South Carolina, 2023–24| Event or Exposure | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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All events and exposures | 112 | 103 | 100 |
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Violent acts | 9 | 16 | 16 |
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Homicides (violent acts by other person) | 5 | 13 | 13 |
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Suicides (intentional self-harm) | 4 | 3 | 3 |
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Intentional self-harm-- shooting | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Transportation incidents | 44 | 40 | 39 |
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Pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles | 7 | 8 | 8 |
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Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle | 34 | 27 | 26 |
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Roadway collision with other vehicle(s) | 17 | 13 | 13 |
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Roadway collision with other vehicle(s)-intersecting, turning | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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Roadway collision with other vehicle(s)-moving in opposite directions, oncoming | 4 | 5 | 5 |
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Nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles | -- | 5 | 5 |
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Falls, slips, trips | 18 | 15 | 15 |
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Fall to lower level | 13 | 12 | 12 |
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Slip, trip, stumble or fall on same level | 4 | 3 | 3 |
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Fall on same level | 4 | 3 | 3 |
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Exposure to harmful substances, environments | 23 | 24 | 23 |
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Exposure to electricity | -- | 8 | 8 |
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Direct exposure to electricity | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Indirect exposure to electricity | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Indirect exposure to electricity- greater than 220 volts | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Exposure to harmful substances | 19 | 14 | 14 |
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Contact incidents | 16 | 8 | 8 |
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Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object | 9 | 3 | 3 |
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Struck by falling object | 6 | 3 | 3 |
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Struck, caught, or compressed by running powered equipment | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Struck by running powered equipment- during maintenance, cleaning, testing | -- | 1 | 1 |
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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, South Carolina, 2023–24| Industry | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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Total | 112 | 103 | 100 |
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Private industry | 103 | 97 | 94 |
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Natural resources and mining | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Construction | 31 | 24 | 23 |
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Construction | 31 | 24 | 23 |
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Heavy and civil engineering construction | -- | 6 | 6 |
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Specialty trade contractors | 17 | 16 | 16 |
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Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 8 | 7 | 7 |
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Structural steel and precast concrete contractors | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Nonresidential structural steel and precast concrete contractors | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Other specialty trade contractors | 3 | 5 | 5 |
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Manufacturing | 13 | 15 | 15 |
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Manufacturing | 13 | 15 | 15 |
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Textile mills | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Trade, transportation, and utilities | 30 | -- | -- |
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Wholesale trade | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Retail trade | 7 | 6 | 6 |
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Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 14 | 14 |
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Truck transportation | 14 | 9 | 9 |
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General freight trucking | 14 | 6 | 6 |
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Specialized freight trucking | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Information | -- | -- | -- |
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Financial activities | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Real estate and rental and leasing | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Professional and business services | -- | 15 | 15 |
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Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 10 | 15 | 15 |
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Educational and health services | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Health care and social assistance | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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Leisure and hospitality | -- | -- | -- |
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Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 4 | 4 |
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Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 4 | 4 |
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Government | 9 | 6 | 6 |
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Federal government | -- | -- | -- |
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State government | 3 | -- | -- |
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Local government | 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 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, South Carolina, 2023–24| Occupation | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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All occupations | 112 | 103 | 100 |
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Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Media and communication equipment workers | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Photographers | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Photographers | -- | 1 | 1 |
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Protective service occupations | -- | 6 | 6 |
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Other protective service workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Miscellaneous protective service workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Crossing guards and flaggers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Food preparation and serving related occupations | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | 5 | 10 | 10 |
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Grounds maintenance workers | -- | 7 | 7 |
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Grounds maintenance workers | -- | 7 | 7 |
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Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Tree trimmers and pruners | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Sales and related occupations | 4 | 7 | 7 |
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Retail sales workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Construction and extraction occupations | 27 | 23 | 22 |
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Supervisors of construction and extraction workers | -- | 4 | 4 |
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First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | -- | 4 | 4 |
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First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | -- | 4 | 4 |
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Construction trades workers | 17 | 15 | 15 |
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Construction laborers | 8 | 7 | 7 |
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Construction laborers | 8 | 7 | 7 |
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Construction equipment operators | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | 10 | 9 | 9 |
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Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | 5 | 7 | 7 |
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Maintenance and repair workers, general | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Maintenance and repair workers, general | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Production occupations | 8 | 9 | 9 |
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Supervisors of production workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Metal workers and plastic workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Welding, soldering, and brazing workers | -- | 3 | 3 |
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Transportation and material moving occupations | 37 | 22 | 21 |
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Motor vehicle operators | 24 | 14 | 14 |
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Material moving workers | 13 | 6 | 6 |
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Laborers and material movers | 6 | 4 | 4 |
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Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | -- | 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, South Carolina, 2023–24| Demographic | 2023 | 2024 |
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| Number | Number | Percent (%) |
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Total | 112 | 103 | 100 |
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Employee status | |
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Wage and salary workers | 100 | 91 | 88 |
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Self-employed | 12 | 12 | 12 |
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Sex | |
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Male | 98 | 90 | 87 |
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Female | 14 | 13 | 13 |
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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 | 7 |
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25 to 34 years | 21 | 21 | 20 |
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35 to 44 years | 24 | 21 | 20 |
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45 to 54 years | 25 | 24 | 23 |
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55 to 64 years | 20 | 19 | 18 |
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65 years and over | 14 | 6 | 6 |
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Race or ethnic origin | |
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White, non-Hispanic | 63 | 61 | 59 |
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Black or African-American, non-Hispanic | 30 | 26 | 25 |
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Hispanic or Latino | 16 | -- | -- |
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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: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
United States Department of Labor
