Less Worker Deaths Investigated by Labor Department’s OSHA in FY 2024

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said its enforcement has led to fewer workers dying.

OSHA, a part of the Department of Labor, said it investigated 826 worker deaths in fiscal year 2024. This is an 11% reduction from 928 in the previous year and, excluding Covid-related deaths, the 2024 tally is the lowest number of worker fatalities OSHA has investigated since FY 2017.

“These numbers are promising evidence that stronger enforcement and collaboration with labor and management, driven by the Biden-Harris administration’s worker-centered approach, is saving lives,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas Parker. “Most striking is the improvement in areas we have focused on with employers and unions. Our state program partners have also seen improvements.”

The decrease in fatalities includes significant reductions in fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, two of the leading causes of death among construction industry workers, OSHA said.

National reporting by federal and state OSHA programs show worker deaths in trench collapses declined nearly 70% since calendar year 2022.

“While fewer workers have died from the hazards OSHA investigates, we still lose more than 5,000 workers each year in largely preventable incidents. While we’re proud of this progress, our work is far from over. Reducing worker deaths means embracing an approach that makes worker health and safety a core value in every workplace. Only then can we fully address all the causes and factors that lead to workers dying needlessly on the job,” added Parker.

Source: OSHA