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News Release Information

26-463-ATL
Friday, March 27, 2026

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

Fatal Work Injuries in Tennessee — 2024

Fatal work injuries totaled 155 in 2024 for Tennessee, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that the number of work-related fatalities in Tennessee was down 5.5 percent from 164 in 2023. (See chart 1.) The fatal work injury rate was 5.1 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024, a decrease from a rate of 5.4 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).


Fatal event or exposure
  • Transportation incidents (55) were the most frequent type of fatal event in Tennessee, accounting for 35 percent of all fatal work injuries in the state. Nationally the share was 38 percent. Worker deaths from transportation incidents were up from 53 over the year. (See chart 2 and table 1.)

  • Contact incidents (30) and violent acts (29) each accounted for 19 percent of Tennessee worker fatalities; nationally the shares were 15 percent and 14 percent, respectively.


Private industry
  • The construction sector had the highest number of fatalities with 29, down from 42 the previous year. (See table 2.)

  • Transportation incidents and fatal falls, slips, and trips, each accounted for 9 of the 29 construction fatalities.

  • The specialty trade contractors subsector accounted for 23 of the sector’s fatal workplace injuries.

Occupation
  • Construction and extraction workers experienced the largest decrease (-9) in fatal work injuries over the year among the major occupational groups. (See table 3.)

  • The transportation and material moving occupational group had the highest number of fatal workplace injuries with 44. Transportation incidents resulted in 25 fatalities among these workers. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers accounted for 26 of the major group’s 44 fatal workplace injuries.

Worker characteristics
  • Wage and salary workers accounted for 80 percent of fatal workplace injuries in Tennessee; the self-employed comprised the remaining 20 percent. (See chart 1 and table 4.) Transportation incidents were the most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers and for self-employed workers.

  • Males accounted for 88 percent of the work-related fatalities in Tennessee and 92 percent nationally.

  • Fatal injuries among White, non-Hispanic workers decreased from 105 to 81 over the year.

  • Workers 25-54 years old had a decrease in worker fatalities from 101 in 2023 to 88 in 2024.


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 Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development 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, Tennessee, 2023–24
Event or Exposure (1) 2023 2024
Number Number Percent (%)

All events and exposures

164 155 100

Violent acts

-- 29 19

Homicides (violent acts by other person)

-- 25 16

Shooting by other person

-- 21 14

Stabbing, cutting, slashing by other person

-- 3 2

Suicides (intentional self-harm)

-- 4 3

Intentional self-harm-- shooting

-- 4 3

Transportation incidents

53 55 35

Aircraft incidents

1 1 1

In-flight crash, collision

1 1 1

Pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles

15 7 5

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in road work zone

-- 2 1

Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in road work zone

-- 2 1

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area

3 5 3

Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle

29 39 25

Roadway collision with other vehicle(s)

16 13 8

Roadway collision with other vehicle(s)-moving in same direction

4 4 3

Roadway collision with other vehicle(s)-moving in opposite directions, oncoming

7 7 5

Roadway collision with object other than vehicle

6 16 10

Collision with object or animal on side of roadway

4 16 10

Roadway noncollision incident

7 10 6

Roadway noncollision- vehicle overturn

-- 9 6

Nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles

8 8 5

Nonroadway noncollision incident

-- 6 4

Nonroadway noncollision- vehicle overturn

-- 3 2

Explosions and fires

-- -- --

Falls, slips, trips

28 23 15

Fall to lower level

23 15 10

Other fall to lower level

20 11 7

Other fall to lower level- less than 6 feet

-- 5 3

Other fall to lower level- 6 to 30 feet

12 5 3

Slip, trip, stumble or fall on same level

5 8 5

Fall on same level

5 8 5

Fall on same level due to slip or trip

-- 7 5

Exposure to harmful substances, environments

28 16 10

Exposure to harmful substances

23 14 9

Drug, alcohol overdose

19 14 9

Contact incidents

30 30 19

Collapse, engulfment

2 8 5

Collapse, engulfment- loose materials or liquids

-- 6 4

Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object

14 14 9

Struck by falling object

13 9 6

Struck by suspended or swinging object

-- 3 2

Overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily condition

-- -- --

Footnotes:
(1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) version 3 implemented for 2023 data forward.

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, Tennessee, 2023–24
Industry 2023 2024
Number Number Percent (%)

Total

164 155 100

Private industry (1)

154 143 92

Natural resources and mining

9 9 6

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

6 7 5

Crop production

-- 4 3

Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production

-- 1 1

Nursery and floriculture production

-- 1 1

Support activities for agriculture and forestry

-- 1 1

Support activities for crop production

-- 1 1

Support activities for crop production

-- 1 1

Soil preparation, planting, and cultivating

-- 1 1

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

3 2 1

Mining (except oil and gas)

2 2 1

Construction

42 29 19

Construction

42 29 19

Construction of buildings

15 6 4

Residential building construction

9 4 3

Residential building construction

9 4 3

Nonresidential building construction

6 1 1

Commercial and institutional building construction

5 1 1

Specialty trade contractors

25 23 15

Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors

13 7 5

Framing contractors

3 3 2

Residential framing contractors

2 3 2

Building finishing contractors

3 11 7

Other building finishing contractors

-- 7 5

Manufacturing

9 18 12

Manufacturing

9 18 12

Food manufacturing

-- 3 2

Animal slaughtering and processing

-- 1 1

Animal slaughtering and processing

-- 1 1

Meat processed from carcasses

-- 1 1

Paper manufacturing

-- 1 1

Converted paper product manufacturing

-- 1 1

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

1 6 4

Plastics product manufacturing

1 6 4

Other plastics product manufacturing

-- 6 4

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

-- 1 1

Cement and concrete product manufacturing

-- 1 1

Ready-mix concrete manufacturing

-- 1 1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

-- 2 1

Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities

-- 1 1

Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities

-- 1 1

Metal coating, engraving (except jewelry and silverware), and allied services to manufacturers

-- 1 1

Other fabricated metal product manufacturing

-- 1 1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

-- 2 1

Motor vehicle parts manufacturing

-- 2 1

Other motor vehicle parts manufacturing

-- 2 1

Miscellaneous manufacturing

1 1 1

Other miscellaneous manufacturing

-- 1 1

All other miscellaneous manufacturing

-- 1 1

Trade, transportation, and utilities

-- -- --

Wholesale trade

-- 3 2

Retail trade

10 7 5

General merchandise retailers

3 1 1

Warehouse clubs, supercenters, and other general merchandise retailers

3 1 1

Warehouse clubs, supercenters, and other general merchandise retailers

3 1 1

Health and personal care retailers

-- 1 1

Health and personal care retailers

-- 1 1

Cosmetics, beauty supplies, and perfume retailers

-- 1 1

Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers

-- 2 1

Used merchandise retailers

-- 1 1

Used merchandise retailers

-- 1 1

Other miscellaneous retailers

-- 1 1

Transportation and warehousing

23 24 15

Truck transportation

17 18 12

General freight trucking

9 13 8

General freight trucking, long-distance

-- 13 8

General freight trucking, long-distance, truckload

-- 12 8

General freight trucking, long-distance, less than truckload

-- 1 1

Specialized freight trucking

8 5 3

Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local

-- 3 2

Transit and ground passenger transportation

-- 1 1

School and employee bus transportation

-- 1 1

School and employee bus transportation

-- 1 1

Warehousing and storage

3 1 1

Warehousing and storage

3 1 1

General warehousing and storage

3 1 1

Information

-- -- --

Financial activities

3 5 3

Real estate and rental and leasing

3 5 3

Real estate

-- 3 2

Rental and leasing services

-- 2 1

Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment rental and leasing

-- 2 1

Construction, transportation, mining, and forestry machinery and equipment rental and leasing

-- 2 1

Construction, mining, and forestry machinery and equipment rental and leasing

-- 1 1

Professional and business services

30 -- --

Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services

28 24 15

Educational and health services

9 -- --

Leisure and hospitality

5 -- --

Accommodation and food services

3 11 7

Other services (except public administration)

11 10 6

Other services (except public administration)

11 10 6

Repair and maintenance

10 5 3

Automotive repair and maintenance

5 3 2

Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance

-- 2 1

General automotive repair

-- 2 1

Other automotive repair and maintenance

-- 1 1

Car washes

-- 1 1

Personal and laundry services

1 1 1

Death care services

-- 1 1

Funeral homes and funeral services

-- 1 1

Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations

-- 4 3

Government (2)

10 12 8

Federal government

-- -- --

State government

-- -- --

Local government

9 12 8

Footnotes:
(1) CFOI has used several versions of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) since 2003 to define industry. For complete information on the version of NAICS used in this year, see our concepts page at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/concepts.htm#industry.
(2) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. Cases classified as foreign government and other government are included in all government counts, but not displayed separately.

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, Tennessee, 2023–24
Occupation (1) 2023 2024
Number Number Percent (%)

All occupations

164 155 100

Management occupations

1 9 6

Business and financial operations occupations

-- -- --

Computer and mathematical occupations

-- 1 1

Mathematical science occupations

-- 1 1

Operations research analysts

-- 1 1

Operations research analysts

-- 1 1

Architecture and engineering occupations

-- -- --

Life, physical, and social science occupations

-- -- --

Community and social service occupations

-- -- --

Legal occupations

-- -- --

Educational instruction and library occupations

1 -- --

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

2 -- --

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

2 -- --

Healthcare support occupations

-- -- --

Protective service occupations

11 12 8

Food preparation and serving related occupations

-- 4 3

Food and beverage serving workers

-- 1 1

Fast food and counter workers

-- 1 1

Fast food and counter workers

-- 1 1

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

18 13 8

Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers

-- 2 1

First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers

-- 2 1

First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

-- 1 1

First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

-- 1 1

Building cleaning and pest control workers

-- 2 1

Building cleaning workers

-- 2 1

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

-- 2 1

Grounds maintenance workers

12 9 6

Grounds maintenance workers

12 9 6

Personal care and service occupations

2 1 1

Funeral service workers

-- 1 1

Embalmers and crematory operators

-- 1 1

Embalmers

-- 1 1

Sales and related occupations

8 4 3

Office and administrative support occupations

4 1 1

Secretaries and administrative assistants

-- 1 1

Secretaries and administrative assistants

-- 1 1

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

4 7 5

Agricultural workers

-- 5 3

Miscellaneous agricultural workers

-- 5 3

Construction and extraction occupations

41 32 21

Supervisors of construction and extraction workers

3 1 1

First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

3 1 1

First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

3 1 1

Construction trades workers

34 29 19

Carpenters

4 9 6

Carpenters

4 9 6

Construction laborers

16 12 8

Construction laborers

16 12 8

Extraction workers

2 2 1

Surface mining machine operators and earth drillers

1 1 1

Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

-- 1 1

Underground mining machine operators

-- 1 1

Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining

-- 1 1

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

12 10 6

Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers

-- 1 1

First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

-- 1 1

First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

-- 1 1

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers

7 1 1

Automotive technicians and repairers

6 1 1

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

-- 1 1

Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

4 8 5

Maintenance and repair workers, general

-- 3 2

Maintenance and repair workers, general

-- 3 2

Miscellaneous installation, maintenance, and repair workers

-- 1 1

Locksmiths and safe repairers

-- 1 1

Production occupations

12 12 8

Metal workers and plastic workers

7 6 4

Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers

-- 1 1

Transportation and material moving occupations

41 44 28

Supervisors of transportation and material moving workers

4 4 3

First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers

4 4 3

Air transportation workers

1 1 1

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

1 1 1

Commercial pilots

1 1 1

Motor vehicle operators

21 32 21

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

-- 31 20

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

-- 26 17

Material moving workers

15 7 5

Laborers and material movers

-- 3 2

Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

-- 1 1

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

-- 2 1

Footnotes:
(1) CFOI has used several versions of the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system since 2003 to define occupation. For complete information on the version of SOC used in these years, see the CFOI definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm). Cases where occupation is unknown are included in the total.

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, Tennessee, 2023–24
Demographic 2023 2024
Number Number Percent (%)

Total

164 155 100

Employee status

Wage and salary workers (1)

134 124 80

Self-employed (2)

30 31 20

Sex

Male

149 136 88

Female

15 19 12

Age (3)

Under 16 years

-- -- --

16 to 17 years

1 3 2

18 to 19 years

1 1 1

20 to 24 years

14 7 5

25 to 34 years

27 29 19

35 to 44 years

34 32 21

45 to 54 years

40 27 17

55 to 64 years

31 28 18

65 years and over

16 28 18

Race or ethnic origin (4)

White, non-Hispanic

105 81 52

Black or African-American, non-Hispanic

22 29 19

Hispanic or Latino

34 35 23

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

-- -- --

Footnotes:
(1) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. Cases where employment status is unknown are included in the counts of wage and salary workers.
(2) Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid and unpaid family workers, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships.
(3) Information may not be available for all age groups.
(4) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude data for Hispanics and Latinos. Cases where ethnicity is unknown are included in counts of non-Hispanic workers.

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