For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 19, 2023 USDL-23-2615 

Technical information: (202) 691-6170 • iifstaff@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/iif

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2022 

There were 5,486 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2022, a 5.7-percent increase from 5,190 in 

2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart 1 and table 1.) The fatal work injury rate 

was 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, up from 3.6 per 100,000 FTE in 2021. (See 

chart 2.) These data are from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). 

Chart 1. Number of fatal work injuries, 2013-22 Chart 2. Fatal work injury rate per 100,000 FTE workers, 2013-22

Key findings

• A worker died every 96 minutes from a work-related injury in 2022 compared to 101 minutes in 2021.

• Fatalities due to violence and other injuries by persons or animals increased 11.6 percent to 849 in 2022,

compared to 761 in 2021. Homicides accounted for 61.7 percent of these fatalities, with 524 deaths, an

8.9-percent increase from 2021.

• Unintentional overdoses increased 13.1 percent to a series high of 525 fatalities in 2022, up from 464 in

2021, continuing a trend of annual increases since 2012.

• Workers in transportation and material moving occupations experienced 1,620 fatal work injuries in

2022 and represented the occupational group with the most fatalities. The next highest was construction

and extraction workers with 1,056 fatalities, an 11.0-percent increase from 2021.

• Transportation incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event accounting for 37.7 percent of

all occupational fatalities. There were 2,066 fatal injuries from transportation incidents in 2022, a 4.2-

percent increase from 1,982 in 2021.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Worker characteristics

• The fatal injury rate for Black or African American workers and for Hispanic or Latino workers

increased from 2021 to 2022 with rates up from 4.0 to 4.2 and 4.5 to 4.6 per 100,000 FTE workers,

respectively. The rates for these groups were both higher than the all-worker rate of 3.7.

• Transportation incidents were the highest cause of fatalities within both groups, with 278 for Black or

African American workers and 439 for Hispanic or Latino workers.

• The second highest cause of fatalities to Black or African American workers was injuries due to

violence and other injuries by persons or animals (199), while for Hispanic or Latino workers it was

falls, slips, or trips (286).

• Foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers accounted for 63.5 percent (792) of total Hispanic or Latino

worker fatalities (1,248). Fatalities in the construction industry accounted for 316 of the 792 foreignborn Hispanic or Latino worker deaths in 2022.

• Black or African American fatalities accounted for 13.4 percent (734) of all fatalities in 2022 but

represented 33.4 percent (175) of fatalities from homicides.

• Similarly, women made up 8.1 percent (445) of all workplace fatalities but accounted for 15.3 percent

(80) of homicides in 2022.

• Workers in the 55 to 64 age group continued to have the highest number of fatalities in 2022 with 1,175

(21.4 percent of total fatalities), up from 1,140 in 2021. Transportation incidents were the highest cause

of fatalities for this age group (455), followed by falls, slips, and trips (251).

Fatal event or exposure

• Despite consecutive increases in 2021 and 2022, transportation incidents were still down 2.6 percent

from pre-pandemic levels in 2019 when there were 2,122 fatalities. (See chart 3.)

• Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles increased 9.3 percent between 2021 and 2022,

leading to a series high of 1,369 fatalities. Pedestrian vehicular incidents were down 3.6 percent in 2022

with 325 fatalities, which is the lowest number of fatalities since 2018.

• Suicides increased 13.1 percent to 267 fatalities in 2022. This followed consecutive decreases in both

2020 and 2021.

• Exposure to harmful substances or environments increased 5.1 percent in 2022 and led to 839 worker

fatalities. This increase was largely due to the increase in unintentional overdoses which accounted for

over 60 percent of fatalities in this category.

• Fatalities due to exposure to temperature extremes increased 18.6 percent in 2022, rising to 51 from 43

in 2021. Fatalities specifically due to environmental heat were 43 in 2022, up from 36 in 2021.

• Almost a quarter (24.6 percent) of fatalities due to homicides occurred while a worker was tending a

retail establishment or waiting on customers.

• Fatalities due to contact with objects and equipment increased 4.7 percent from 705 fatalities in 2021 to

738 in 2022. This is the highest count for this event category since 2018. Machinery was the source of

199 fatalities within this category.

• Work-related fatalities due to falls, slips, and trips increased 1.8 percent in 2022, resulting in 865

fatalities, up from 850 in 2021. Most fatalities in this category (80.9 percent) were due to falls to lower

levels, which had 700 fatalities in 2022. This was a 2.9-percent increase from 680 fatalities in 2021.

2
Chart 3. Fatal work injuries by major event or exposure, 2018-22 

Occupation

• With a rate of 14.6 fatalities per 100,000 FTE workers, transportation and material moving occupations

had the most fatalities in 2022 (1,620), up from 1,523 in 2021. The increase was due to fatalities to

driver/sales workers and truck drivers increasing by 8.0 percent, from 1,032 fatalities in 2021 to 1,115 in

2022.

• Workers in construction and extraction occupations had the second most fatalities (1,056) in 2022

compared to other occupation groups. Falls, slips, or trips were the events precipitating 423 of these

fatalities. The fatality rate for this occupation group increased from 12.3 deaths per 100,000 FTE

workers in 2021 to 13.0 in 2022.

• Fatalities among protective service occupations increased 10.9 percent in 2022, rising to 335 from 302

in 2021. The rate for this occupational group increased to 10.2 fatalities per 100,000 FTE workers in

2022, up from 9.4 in 2021. Homicides (121) and suicides (17) accounted for 41.2 percent of these

fatalities.

• The number and rate of fatalities for installation, maintenance, and repair occupations decreased in

2022. The total fatalities decreased to 431 in 2022 from 475 in 2021 and the rate decreased to 8.8

fatalities per 100,000 FTE workers from 9.7 in 2021. Work fatalities among building and grounds

cleaning and maintenance workers also decreased in 2022 to 352 from 356 in 2021. The 2022 rate was

7.4 and in 2021 it was 7.6.

• Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations had the highest fatality rate (23.5 fatalities per 100,000 FTE

workers) of all occupational groups in 2022, up from 20.0 in 2021.

Fatal injury counts and rates by occupation, industry, and worker demographics are available at

www.bls.gov/iif/fatal-injuries-tables.htm.

0

500

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2,500

Transportation

incidents

Falls, slips, trips Violence and other

injuries by persons or

animals

Exposure to harmful

substances or

environments

Contact with objects

and equipment

Fires and

explosions

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

3
Chart 4. Fatal work injury rates per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers by selected occupational groups, 2020-22

TECHNICAL NOTES

Background 

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational 

Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, is a count of all fatalities resulting from workplace injuries 

occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI uses a variety of state, federal, and independent data 

sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as 

possible. For the 2022 data, over 27,200 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection 

process. For technical information and definitions for the CFOI, see the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS 

website at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm and the CFOI definitions at 

www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/occupational-safety-and-health-definitions.htm. Fatal injury rates are subject to 

sampling error as they are calculated using employment data from the Current Population Survey, a sample of 

households, and the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. For more information on sampling error, see 

www.bls.gov/iif/additional-resources/reliability-of-estimates.htm. 

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), another component of the OSHS program, presents 

frequency counts and incidence rates by industry, detailed case circumstances, and worker characteristics for 

nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses for cases that result in days away from work and days of job transfer 

or restriction. For these data, access the BLS website: www.bls.gov/iif. 

Identification and verification of work-related fatalities

In 2022, work relationship could not be independently verified by multiple source documents for 32 fatal work

injuries. However, the information on the initiating source document for these cases was sufficient to determine 

that the incident was likely to be job-related. Data for these fatalities are included. 

Federal/State agency coverage

The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, some of which may be outside the scope of other agencies or 

regulatory coverage. Comparisons between CFOI counts and those released by other agencies should account 

for the different coverage requirements and definitions used by each agency. For more information on the scope 

of CFOI, see www.bls.gov/iif/overview/cfoi-scope.htm and www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/concepts.htm. 

7.4

8.8

10.2

13.0

14.6

23.5

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Protective service

Construction and extraction

Transportation and material moving

Farming, fishing, and forestry

2020 2021 2022

4
Latency Cases

Latent fatal occupational injury cases occur when the date of injury differs from the date of death. In some 

cases, the death occurs in a different year than the occupational injury and are known as cross-year latent cases. 

In 2022, there were 186 cases where this occurred, and 157 of these latent cases occurred more than 30 days 

prior to the start of 2022. For more information on latent cases, see www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-10/latencyin-fatal-occupational-injuries.htm. 

CFOI Methodology 

Starting with the reference year 2019, CFOI modernized its disclosure methodology further strengthening its 

protection of confidential data. Individually identifiable data collected by the CFOI are used exclusively for 

statistical purposes and are protected under the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency 

Act of 2002 (CIPSEA). These data are collected under a pledge of confidentiality and therefore require BLS to 

prevent disclosure of identifying information of decedents. For more information see 

www.bls.gov/iif/questions-and-answers.htm. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

CFOI reports fatal workplace injuries only. These may include fatal workplace injuries complicated by an 

illness such as COVID-19. Fatal workplace illnesses not precipitated by an injury are not in scope for CFOI. 

CFOI does not report any illness related information, including COVID-19. Additional information is available 

at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-on-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-compensation-andoccupational-requirements.htm. 

Acknowledgements

BLS thanks the participating states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin 

Islands, and Guam for their efforts in collecting accurate, comprehensive, and useful data on fatal work injuries. 

Although data for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam are not included in the national totals, results 

for these jurisdictions are available. Participating agencies may be contacted to request more detailed state 

results. Contact information is available at www.bls.gov/iif/state-data.htm. 

BLS also appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that provided source 

documents used to identify fatal work injuries. Among these agencies are the Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration; the National Transportation Safety Board; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration; the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (Federal Employees’ Compensation and 

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation divisions); the Federal Railroad Administration; the National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration; state vital statistics registrars, coroners, and medical examiners; state 

departments of health, labor, and industrial relations and workers’ compensation agencies; state and local police 

departments; and state farm bureaus.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications 

relay services.

5
Table 1: Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, 2018-22

Characteristic 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Total1 5,250 5,333 4,764 5,190 5,486

Employee status

Wage and salary workers2 4,178 4,240 3,864 4,284 4,601

Self-employed3 1,072 1,093 900 906 885

Gender

Women 413 437 387 448 445

Men 4,837 4,896 4,377 4,741 5,041

Age

Under 16 years 13 17 14 7 6 

16 to 17 years 9 17 12 17 13

18 to 19 years 56 50 66 85 77

20 to 24 years 282 325 260 289 323

25 to 34 years 946 866 833 882 962

35 to 44 years 966 967 898 977 1,058

45 to 54 years 1,114 1,082 954 1,087 1,111

55 to 64 years 1,104 1,212 1,051 1,140 1,175

65 years and over 759 793 676 702 761

Race or ethnic origin4

White (non-Hispanic) 3,405 3,297 2,898 3,103 3,167

Black or African-American (non-Hispanic) 615 634 541 653 734

Hispanic or Latino 961 1,088 1,072 1,130 1,248

American Indian or Alaskan Native (non-Hispanic) 42 30 32 41 35

Asian (non-Hispanic) 153 181 150 178 169

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) 10 14 8 18 9 

Multiple races (non-Hispanic) 14 22 14 11 16

Other races or not reported (non-Hispanic) 50 67 49 56 108

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

1

 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has published data on fatal occupational injuries for the United States since 1992. During this time, the classification systems and definitions 

of many data elements have changed. See the CFOI Definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm) for a more detailed description of 

each data element.

2

 May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. Cases where employment status is unknown are included in the counts of wage and salary workers.

3

 Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid and unpaid family workers, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of 

partnerships.

4

 Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude data for Hispanics and Latinos. Cases where ethnicity is unknown are included in counts of 

non-Hispanic workers.

Note: Data for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet 

publication criteria. N.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

6
Table 2: Fatal occupational injuries for selected events or exposures, 2018-22

Characteristic 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Total1 5,250 5,333 4,764 5,190 5,486

Event or exposure2

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals 828 841 705 761 849

Intentional injury by person 757 761 651 718 791

Homicides 453 454 392 481 524

Shooting by other person—intentional 351 363 304 387 435

Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing 44 42 50 45 44

Suicides 304 307 259 236 267

Transportation incidents 2,080 2,122 1,778 1,982 2,066

Aircraft incidents 133 152 80 100 101

Rail vehicle incidents 48 47 32 33 43

Pedestrian vehicular incident 325 341 330 337 325

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone 58 56 57 49 30

Water vehicle incident 58 63 74 39 31

Roadway incident involving motorized land vehicle 1,276 1,270 1,038 1,253 1,369

Roadway collision with other vehicle 677 729 537 649 763

Roadway collision moving in same direction 183 194 142 184 207

Roadway collision moving in opposite directions, oncoming 243 258 198 218 252

Roadway collision moving perpendicularly 141 153 106 129 164

Roadway collision with object other than vehicle 373 325 302 319 352

Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway 345 301 275 283 314

Roadway noncollision incident 222 212 196 279 249

Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway 170 164 155 207 181

Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicle 225 236 206 201 185

Nonroadway noncollision incident 164 193 167 153 128

Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway 105 128 101 100 77

Fire or explosion 115 99 71 76 107

Fall, slip, trip 791 880 805 850 865

Fall on same level 154 146 136 145 144

Fall to lower level 615 711 645 680 700

Fall from collapsing structure or equipment 50 37 36 51 33

Fall through surface or existing opening 83 95 63 77 90

Exposure to harmful substances or environments 621 642 672 798 839

Exposure to electricity 160 166 126 152 145

Exposure to temperature extremes 60 53 62 43 51

Exposure to other harmful substances 355 379 448 551 586

Inhalation of harmful substance 42 59 50 72 49

Contact with objects and equipment 786 732 716 705 738

Struck by object or equipment 566 518 468 473 484

Struck by powered vehicle nontransport 215 205 174 169 181

Struck by falling object or equipment 278 241 217 227 238

Struck by discharged or flying object 32 26 37 24 19

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects 137 120 142 143 142

Caught in running equipment or machinery 106 93 89 93 102

Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material 73 83 93 79 95

1

 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has published data on fatal occupational injuries for the United States since 1992. During this time, the classification systems and 

definitions of many data elements have changed. See the CFOI Definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm) for a more detailed 

description of each data element.

2

 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.

Note: Data for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet 

publication criteria. N.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

7
Table 3: Fatal occupational injuries for selected occupations, 2018-22

Characteristic 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Total1 5,250 5,333 4,764 5,190 5,486

Occupation (SOC)2

Management occupations 387 380 361 323 342

Business and financial operations occupations 38 29 23 27 32

Computer and mathematical occupations 12 15 8 6 12

Architecture and engineering occupations 30 43 31 29 41

Life, physical, and social science occupations 18 15 17 10 20

Community and social services occupations 23 31 26 40 19

Legal occupations 15 11 5 11 11

Educational instruction and library occupations 27 24 13 16 28

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations 71 40 36 45 49

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 65 56 51 57 65

Healthcare support occupations 32 38 44 32 38

Protective service occupations 270 231 229 302 335

Fire fighting and prevention workers 33 24 - - -

Law enforcement workers 127 97 115 - -

Food preparation and serving related occupations 100 99 82 101 123

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations 350 333 307 356 352

Building cleaning and pest control workers 66 63 61 80 74

Grounds maintenance workers 225 229 202 225 222

Personal care and service occupations 63 61 58 64 61

Sales and related occupations 241 240 200 200 212

Supervisors, sales workers 102 99 73 70 67

Retail sales workers 99 96 95 83 112

Office and administrative support occupations 69 92 69 91 82

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations 262 291 264 218 223

Agricultural workers 158 183 148 133 146

Fishing and hunting workers 31 44 42 23 16

Forest, conservation, and logging workers 57 49 42 46 55

Construction and extraction occupations 1,003 1,066 976 951 1,056

Supervisors of construction and extraction workers 144 136 88 117 113

Construction trades workers 731 809 771 726 811

Extraction workers 64 50 59 54 70

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations 420 438 393 475 431

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers 152 155 135 152 140

Production occupations 225 245 224 242 268

Transportation and material moving occupations 1,443 1,481 1,282 1,523 1,620

Air transportation workers 71 85 50 68 74

Motor vehicle operators 1,044 1,091 933 1,103 1,198

Material moving workers 255 238 218 284 281

Military occupations3 82 65 - - -

1

 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has published data on fatal occupational injuries for the United States since 1992. During this time, the classification systems and 

definitions of many data elements have changed. See the CFOI Definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm) for a more detailed 

description of each data element.

2

 CFOI has used several versions of the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system since 2003 to define occupation. For complete information on the version of SOC used in these 

years, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where occupation is unknown are included in the total.

3

 Includes fatal injuries to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation listed.

Note: Data for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet 

publication criteria. N.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

8
Table 4: Fatal work injury rates1

 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers by selected occupations, 2020-22

Characteristic 2020 2021 2022

All workers2 3.4 3.6 3.7

Occupation (SOC)3

Farming, fishing, and forestry 25.3 20.0 23.5

Transportation and material moving 13.1 14.4 14.6

Construction and extraction 13.5 12.3 13.0

Protective Service 7.1 9.4 10.2

Installation, maintenance, and repair 8.6 9.7 8.8

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance 7.2 7.6 7.4

1

 Fatal injury rates are per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. Fatal injury rates exclude workers under the age of 16 years, volunteers, and resident military. Complete 

national rates can be found at www.bls.gov/iif/fatal-injuries-tables.htm#rates. Complete state rates can be found at www.bls.gov/iif/state-data.htm. National and state rates are 

calculated using different methodology and cannot be directly compared. See www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/calculation.htm#comparisons-of-national-and-state-rates for more 

information on how rates are calculated and caveats for comparison. N/A means a rate was not published for this group.

2

 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) has published data on fatal occupational injuries for the United States since 1992. During this time, the classification systems and 

definitions of many data elements have changed. See the CFOI Definitions page (www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm) for a more 

detailed description of each data element.

3

 CFOI has used several versions of the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system since 2003 to define occupation. For complete information on the version of SOC used in 

these years, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where occupation is unknown are included 

in the total.

Note: Data for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not 

meet publication criteria. N.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational 

Injuries

9