A total of 5,147 fatal workplace fatalities were recorded in the United States in 2017, down slightly from the 5,190 fatal injuries reported in 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. The fatal injury rate also decreased from 3.6 percent in 2016 to 3.5 percent in 2017.
“While today’s report shows a decline in the number of workplace fatalities, the loss of even one worker is too many,” said Loren Sweatt, acting assistant secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “Through comprehensive enforcement and compliance assistance that includes educating job creators about their responsibilities under the law, and providing robust education opportunities to workers, OSHA is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the American workforce.”
In addition to the decline in overall fatalities, crane-related workplace fatalities, and fatal occupational injuries in the private manufacturing industry and wholesale trade industries reached their lowest points since the CFOI started in 2003.
“The scourge of opioid addiction unfortunately continues to take its toll on workers across the country, demonstrating the importance of this administration’s efforts to tackle this crisis,” added Sweatt.
The number of unintentional overdoses due to the non-medical use of drugs or alcohol while at work increased by 25 percent – the fifth consecutive year overdose deaths rose by at least 25 percent.