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Recent data on deadly workplace accidents

At work, you could become involved in a serious accident for countless reasons. Whether you face risks on the road or work with dangerous equipment, protecting yourself is paramount. Regardless of the field you work in, an accident could turn your life upside down or even prove fatal.

Sadly, recent data shows an increase in the prevalence of worker fatalities.

Statistics on worker deaths

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published a census of deadly occupational injuries that occurred over the course of 2021. During 2021, more than 5,100 fatal work-related injuries occurred in the U.S., up 8.9% in comparison to 2020. Among full-time equivalent workers, 3.6 out of every 100,000 lost their lives in job-related accidents in 2021. To view this data in a different way, work-related injuries led to the loss of a worker’s life every 101 minutes.

During 2021, more than one out of every five worker fatalities involved those aged 45 to 54, up 13.9% in comparison to 2020.

Risks associated with fatal occupational accidents

Over the course of 2021, 798 worker deaths occurred due to harmful substances and environments, 850 occurred as a result of slipping, tripping or falling and 791 involved violence. Transportation-related accidents accounted for the loss of 1,982 workers’ lives, an 11.5% increase from the prior year.

It is critical for employers and those who work in various fields to review risks associated with fatal workplace accidents and prioritize prevention. If you lost a loved one in a workplace accident, you should immediately examine resources that could help, such as death benefits through workers’ compensation.