Safer Workplaces in 2025

This workplace safety statistics report features key information points that can aid organizations in understanding safety programs. 

It also covers how companies can use EHS statistics to develop more informed response plans and training programs, mitigate risks, and, ultimately, prevent fatalities in the workplace.

‍

Operational Benefits of Strong Safety Practices 

Workplace safety isn’t just for compliance with safety regulations. It’s a measure that can help organizations drive higher productivity, lessen downtime, and obtain long-term benefits. 

These include maintaining a competitive edge, attracting top talent, and building a positive reputation in their respective industries. 

To enhance safety management, organizations should analyze workplace safety data. This allows them to: 

• Manage risks more effectively
• Proactively prevent accidents
• Improve accountability
• Comply with regulations
• Enhance overall operational efficiency

‍

Nonfatal Workplace Incidents Statistics

Nonfatal incidents make up a significant portion of workplace safety concerns. Tracking these cases helps highlight patterns and pinpoint areas that need stronger safety measures.

• Private industry employers in the US reported 2.6 million cases of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023. 
• This shows an 8.4% decrease in workplace injuries and illnesses reported by employers compared to data in 2022. 
• Nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work (DAFW) dropped to 20.1% in 2023 (946,500 cases), while illnesses decreased by 56.6%.
• Worldwide, there were nearly 395 million workers who suffered from nonfatal work injuries in 2023

‍

‍

‍

Analysis of Nonfatal Incidents

Recent data shows clear changes in the types and frequency of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. These shifts point to new risks that organizations should start addressing through a stronger risk management system and improved incident reporting.

• The incidence rate of respiratory illnesses fell to 9.5 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2023 — down 72.6% from 2022. 

• This may also be the main driver of the decrease in workplace illnesses in 2023, which reached 100,200 cases.
• It’s also worth noting that in 2022, more cases of respiratory illnesses were reported compared to 2021—269,600 vs. 365,000 cases in 2022.

• In 2023, 2.4 nonfatal work injury and illness cases per 100 workers were reported.
  
  • 2022: 2.7 cases per 100 workers
  • 2021: 2.7 per 100 workers 

From 2021 to 2022, the following causes were associated with the most DART cases:

• Overexertion and bodily reaction – 1,001,440 DART cases
• Contact with objects and equipment – 780,690 DART cases

‍

Key Statistics on Fatal Incidents 

Fatal work injuries in the US dropped to 5,283 in 2023. This represents a 3.7% decrease from the 5,486 cases reported in 2022. The decline came along with a lower fatal work injury rate:

• 3.6 fatalities in every 100,000 full-time equivalent workers (FTE) in 2021.
• 3.7 fatalities in every 100,000 FTE in 2022.
• 3.5 fatalities in every 100,000FTE in 2023.

‍

‍

Analysis of Fatal Incidents

This decrease in fatal incidents stems from several causes:

• A worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury in 2023 compared to 96 minutes in 2022.
• Fatalities due to violent acts totaled 740 in 2023.
• Opioids were the primary source of 162 fatalities and a contributor in an additional 144 fatalities where multiple drugs were the source.
• Transportation incidents were reported as the most frequent type of fatal event, making up 36.8% (1,942 cases) of all reported occupational fatalities. For context, previous years were:
  
  • 2021 – 1,982 cases
  • 2022 – 2,066 cases

This drop in fatal incidents highlights just how important it is to implement more robust safety measures at work. 

‍

Preventable Deaths Statistics

Data from the ILO shows that nearly three million workers die every year due to workplace accidents and diseases. This continues to happen despite improvements in workplace safety. 

‍

Key Causes and Risk Factors 

Most work-related fatalities (2.6 million) are due to work-related diseases, with the top three causes being:

• Circulatory diseases (32.36%)
• Malignant neoplasms (27.50%)
• Chronic respiratory diseases (14.25%)

‍

‍

Common risk factors that influence these fatalities may include:

• Long working hours 
• Unprotected exposure to hazardous substances and biological hazards
• Occupational injuries
• Socio-demographic changes, such as the growing global labor force
• Improvements in diagnostic tools, which contribute to the growing number of work-related injuries and deaths that are detected

Work-related deaths also saw unequal distribution between genders. Male workers face higher mortality rates, averaging 108.3 deaths per 100,000, compared to an average of 48.4 per 100,000 for females. 

Despite progress in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) protocols, workers and employers are still facing significant challenges in maintaining workplace health and safety. 

‍

How COVID-19 Transformed U.S. Workplaces

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the U.S. labor market and work environment. 

‍

Impact on the Labor Market 

• Unemployment surged from 3.8% in February 2020 to 14.4% in April 2020. By late 2021, the rate recovered to around 4%.
• Groups such as women, immigrants, young workers, those without a high school diploma, and lower-income workers were hit hardest.
• Many workers, especially women, left the labor force entirely during the first year of the pandemic.

‍

Shift to Telework

• A rapid move to remote work occurred, with 55% of teleworkable employees working from home by October 2020.
• In October 2024, about 32% work remotely full time while 43% follow a hybrid schedule.
• Around 60% of workers hold jobs that cannot be done remotely.

‍

Worker Experience and Technology

• Most remote workers reported an easy transition regarding technology and meeting deadlines, though challenges with interruptions and motivation persisted, particularly among younger employees.
• Artificial Intelligence also assisted in making employees’ lives easier.
• Video conferencing tools like Zoom and Webex became a standard part of daily work.
• 48% of Americans say the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way they now use technology.

‍

Workplace Safety and Health Measures

Based on the BLS factsheet, most of the cases classified as “days away from work” cases  mainly affected the private industry, including:

• Healthcare and social assistance – 288.890 cases
• Manufacturing – 30,490 cases
• Retail trade – 19,090 cases
• Accommodation and food services – 8,640 cases
• Wholesale trade – 8,600 cases

‍

‍

Return to In-Person Work

• As offices reopened, many employers instituted hybrid work models.
• 73% say their current arrangement has helped them when it comes to balancing work and their personal life.
• Many employees now prefer flexible arrangements and say they might leave if remote work were no longer an option.
• 49% of those who are working from home at least sometimes say their current work arrangement has made it harder for them to feel connected with their co-workers.

‍

Most Affected Occupational Economic Sectors During Covid 19

Based on recently published data from the EU:

• 5% of work accidents in 2020 stemmed from COVID-19, while 8% of what was categorized as occupational diseases were classified as COVID-19 cases. 
• During this same period, nearly 150,000 cases were reported as work accidents related to COVID-19, and nearly 10,000 occupational disease cases were recorded as COVID-19 cases. 

• Of the different sectors affected by the pandemic, the health sector was affected the most:

•  23% of work accidents were reported as occupational COVID-19 cases
•  39% of occupational diseases are classified as COVID-19 cases.

‍

‍

‍

Building a Smarter Safety Culture

Despite recent improvements in injury and fatality rates, serious workplace health and safety risks remain. This points to the need for stronger and more proactive safety protocols across industries. 

Awareness of health and safety trends helps create a safer work environment. For instance, the continued occurrence of fatal injuries and preventable deaths reveals which workplace practices or activities contribute the most to these incidents. 

With this information, organizations can begin identifying these hazards. They can also develop effective safety plans and programs tailored to their unique needs. 

‍

Predictions and Trends in Workplace Safety

Standards in building and maintaining workplace safety continue to change. Tracking new trends and practices helps organizations stay ahead while keeping their workforce safe. 

Below are some of the emerging trends and predictions in workplace safety that are worth looking at:

• A growing need to keep employees engaged and well-informed. Organizations can keep up with this trend by hosting regular EHS training sessions that employ out-of-the-box approaches, like immersive technologies. They can also encourage workers to report hazards actively. 
• It’s likely that, in the future, more organizations will leverage new technology, such as AI and IoT (Internet of Things), to collect and analyze EHS data. They can use this real-time data to develop a custom workplace safety plan and anticipate safety risks.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends safety and health programs that focus on core elements like worker involvement, hazard identification, and continuous improvement.

‍

‍

‍