Rate of Fatal Work Injuries Remains Stable

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Report, released this week, shows the rate of fatal work injuries remained relatively unchanged in 2018 from the previous year.

Although the overall rate of fatal injuries was stable, the report noted marked increases and decreases in certain categories. Unintentional overdoses at work increased by 12%. This is the sixth consecutive annual increase and a reflection of the nation’s opioid crisis.

Suicide at work increased by 11% in 2018. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created a new webpage with free and confidential resources to help employers and coworkers identify the warning signs of suicide and know who and how to call for help.

In a positive aspect of the report, work-related fatal falls from heights declined 14% in 2018 to the lowest total since 2013. Enforcement efforts helped abate more than 7,000 fall-related deaths at work sites.