Workplace Fatalities Saw Big Drop in 2020

U.S. workplace fatalities for 2020 (the most recent year of data available) fell 10.7% compared to 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The total of 4,764 workplace injuries nationwide represented the lowest annual number of workplace injury deaths since 2013. (Work hours decreased 9% in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.)

Food manufacturers and fabricated metal product manufacturers reported 53 fatalities each in 2020. EHS Today reports transportation incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event, accounting for 37.3% of all work-related fatalities. Unintentional overdoses from non-medical use of drugs increased 24% and accounted for 388 deaths. 12/21/2021